How to Prevent Future Executive Overreach: Proposed Constitutional Amendments & Draft Bills

 

Why We Need New Safeguards

Recent news—highlighted concerns about presidents invoking emergency powers unchecked" constitutioncenter.org+15lawfaremedia.org+15constitutioncenter.org+15, and undermining judicial authority on key issues like “posse comitatus” —make clear that executive power can outgrow its Constitutional limits. Global democratic backsliding shows how quickly democracies unravel when no safeguards exist .

Implementing these amendments would:

• Limit executives' emergency and executive order powers

• Ensure judicial enforcement mechanisms remain strong

• Add necessary checks, balances, and accountability tools

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✍️ Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Power Area	New Amendment Proposal
Presidential Emergency Powers	Emergency Powers Safeguard: Requires Congress to approve any national emergency declaration within 30 days by 2/3 vote of Congress, or it automatically expires. Presidents cannot bypass existing law.
Executive Order Limitation	Executive Order Review Clause: All major federal executive orders must pass Congress within 90 days by 2/3 vote of Congress, or they automatically expire. Judges can review without bond or standing limits.
Presidential Immunity	No One Above the Law Amendment: Clarifies no president is immune from prosecution for crimes committed while in office after they leave office en.wikipedia.org+15theguardian.com+15ogles.house.gov+15arxiv.org+1thetimes.co.uk+1en.wikipedia.org+15constitutioncenter.org+15youtube.com+15people.com+1businessinsider.com+1.
Term Limits for Justices	Judicial Term Amendment: Supreme Court Justices serve non-renewable 18-year terms with binding ethics code .
Congressional Term Limits	Congressional Term-Limit Amendment: Senate – max two 6-year terms; House – max six 2-year terms per office .

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🏛 Draft Bills for New Amendments

H.J.Res. 2025–1 (Emergency Powers Safeguard)

• Requires any emergency declaration >30 days to have explicit Congressional approval by 2/3 vote of Congress.

H.J.Res. 2025–2 (Executive Order Review Clause)

• Mandates that significant federal executive orders require congressional passage within 90 days by 2/3 vote of Congress ; judicial review unconditioned.

H.J.Res. 2025–3 (No One Above the Law Amendment)

• Clarifies that the President retains no constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution post-presidency.

H.J.Res. 2025–4 (Judicial Term Amendment)

• Changes Supreme Court tenure to single 18-year term, with binding code of conduct required.

H.J.Res. 2025–5 (Congressional Term Limit Amendment)

• Institutes term limits for straight congressional service periods.

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✅ Benefits of the Amendments

• Restores the Rule of Law: Ensures presidents cannot override courts through executive power.

• Reinforces Checks & Balances: Frees Congress from passive legislative compliance.

• Protects Independence of Courts: Safeguards institutional integrity against executive pressure.

• Prevent Institutional Capture: Limits career politicians and justices from entrenchment.

• Reflects Global Democratic Norms: Many democracies (e.g. Germany, South Korea) impose executive term limits businessinsider.com+9arxiv.org+9lawfaremedia.org+9constitution.congress.gov+7apnews.com+7reaganlibrary.gov+7thetimes.co.uk+2businessinsider.com+2theguardian.com+2termlimits.com+1reagan.blogs.archives.gov+1democrats-appropriations.house.gov.

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📰 Reference Page

1. Abuse of emergency powers risk lawfaremedia.org

2. Executive overreach examples (Trump DOJ firings) congress.gov+15democrats-appropriations.house.gov+15businessinsider.com+15

3. Biden’s Supreme Court reform plan theguardian.com+3businessinsider.com+3people.com+3

4. Term limits for justices and congressional service/popular support theguardian.com+4businessinsider.com+4thetimes.co.uk+4

5. Risks seen in authoritarian regimes (Ortega, others) apnews.com

Why the One Big Beautiful Bill Isn’t Enough – How to Fix It With a Smarter, Balanced Alternative

 

What’s Wrong With the One Big Beautiful Bill

1. Massive Increase in Deficit
The CBO projects the bill will add $2.4 trillion in deficits over 2025–2034 – and rises by $3 trillion once interest is factored in cbo.gov+15americanactionforum.org+15whitehouse.gov+15. Proponents argue tariffs might offset this but experts call that approach unreliable .

2. Undermines Democracy & Rule of Law
A clause prevents federal courts enforcing contempt unless plaintiffs post bond—an attack on judicial checks and balances time.com+5reuters.com+5thedailybeast.com+5.

3. Centralizes Power Through AI Moratorium
It bans state-level AI regulation for 10 years, stripping states of rights and opening the door for Big Tech to exploit gaps time.com+7theverge.com+7foxnews.com+7.

4. Devastates Medicaid and Welfare
Tightening work requirements could cause up to 10.9 million Medicaid losses, especially harming vulnerable communities time.com+2apnews.com+2freepressokc.com+2.

5. Weakens Green Energy & Healthcare Policies
Repeal of climate incentives and ACA subsidies retracts progress on clean energy and health coverage apnews.com+1wsj.com+1.

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🟢 What’s Right About the Bill

• Pro-Business Tax Cuts: Permanently extends TCJA benefits, encourages investment through new credits for overtime, tips, and SALT refunds whitehouse.gov.

• Modernized Air Traffic Infrastructure: Backed by aviation industry as vital updates for ATC systems whitehouse.gov.

• Budget Oversight Measures: Promotes agency transparency and “efficiency initiatives”—though execution may vary.

• Support for Border Patrol & Immigration Enforcement: Widely endorsed by law enforcement and related groups news.com.au.

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🛠️ How to Improve Matters: Deficit, Democracy & Equity

1. Enforce Debt Caps: Limit deficit increases to <2% of GDP annually, with automatic triggers for adjustment if exceeded.

2. Judicial Integrity Clause: Restore courts’ ability to enforce injunctions without bond.

3. Instead of AI Ban → Strategic Oversight: Allow states to regulate safety/ethics, with a federal baseline to prevent abuses.

4. Safeguard Healthcare: Exempt Medicaid cuts tied to essential services and protect coverage for up to 5 million at-risk individuals.

5. Extend Green Energy Incentives: Phase out tax credits gradually over a set period, not abruptly cut.

6. Use Progressive Tax Adjustments: Retain core business incentives but phase out unfair loopholes or add a modest VAT to cover long-term costs.

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✅ A Smarter Alternative Bill: The Balanced Renewal Act

1. Deficit Discipline:

   • Cap deficits at 2% of GDP; all excess spending must be offset by tax or spending adjustments.

2. Balanced Tax System:

   • Tiered corporate tax (5–18%), preserve TCJA for small bus.

   • Payroll tax bolstering via broadened base.

3. Education & Workforce Boost:

   • Student debt caps, Pell eligibility for certificates, high school apprenticeships funded publicly.

4. Healthcare & Safety Net Reform:

   • No Medicaid work penalties, preserve coverage for vulnerable groups, invest in community healthcare and telemedicine.

5. AI & Governance Safeguards:

   • AI oversight doctrine with federal baseline, state flexibility on ethics/regulation.

Summary: This structured approach ensures deficit control, protects democracy, sustains infrastructure, empowers states, and promotes innovation—without risking fiscal or institutional collapse.

Referecnes:

Deficit Impact

• CBO projects the One Big Beautiful Bill will raise deficits by $2.4T over 2025–2034 (and nearly $3T including interest) apnews.com+15apnews.com+15cbo.gov+15.

• Factcheck/KFF estimate 10.9M Americans could lose Medicaid abcnews.go.com+14kff.org+14barrons.com+14.

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🏛 Judicial Power Concerns

• The bill restricts courts from enforcing contempt unless plaintiffs post bonds — a threat to checks and balances .

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🤖 AI State Regulation Ban

• Establishes a 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulations; big concerns about limiting protections apnews.com+15theverge.com+15washingtonpost.com+15.

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⛑ Medicaid and Healthcare Cuts

• Medicaid work requirements and funding cuts could leave up to 10.9M uninsured wsj.com+15apnews.com+15apnews.com+15.

• SNAP cuts estimated at $230B over 10 years abcnews.go.com+1statnews.com+1.

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🌍 Green Energy Rollbacks

• Repeals key Inflation Reduction Act green initiatives apnews.com+5apnews.com+5arxiv.org+5.

• Moody’s criticized the deficit impact and loss of environmental policy crfb.org.

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✅ Pro-Business Tax Measures

• Extends TCJA benefits and adds credits for overtime, tips, high SALT, and MAGA accounts en.wikipedia.org.

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✈ Air Traffic & Infrastructure Funding

• BACKED by industry for modernization of ATC systems theguardian.com+1techpolicy.press+1.

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🔍 Transparency and Oversight

• The bill mandates monthly agency spending transparency and oversight—from efficiency to watchdog provisions knoxvillewolf.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15factcheck.org+15.

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🛠 Improvements and Alternatives

The suggested changes and the “Balanced Renewal Act” incorporate best practices — debt caps, progressive taxation, preservation of healthcare and environment, and smart transparency — based on:

• Budget rules (e.g. Switzerland, Germany) concepts .

• AI regulation models (EU, decentralized U.S. states) en.wikipedia.org+10arxiv.org+10washingtontimes.com+10.

• Historical reform lessons and balanced fiscal frameworks.

A Better Blueprint for America's Future: Comparing Real Plans to Balance the Budget and Prepare for Tomorrow

 

A Tale of Two Plans: Which One Truly Makes America Great Again?

In a time when the United States faces mounting debt, growing income inequality, and outdated education and workforce systems, bold action is needed. Two major proposals have emerged that aim to fix America’s deepest structural problems. One is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, an ambitious all-in-one legislative package that seeks to address nearly every issue at once. The other is a more measured, modular proposal designed for strategic long-term reform of education, the workforce, healthcare, and government spending—our plan.

Let’s break down the differences, the strengths, and why our solution may be the most realistic and effective path forward.

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The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act": Ambition Without Precision

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act attempts to do it all—overhaul education, provide healthcare, eliminate waste, implement AI, build housing, improve infrastructure, and balance the budget. It paints a sweeping picture of what America could be if everything changed overnight.

Pros of the Big Bill:

• Broad in scope, with dozens of detailed programs

• Focuses heavily on technology and government efficiency

• Prioritizes oversight and transparency

• Promotes universal healthcare, education, and digital access

But here’s the catch:

• The bill lacks a phased, realistic implementation strategy

• It requires massive up-front spending and assumes high-tech efficiency gains will immediately offset costs

• Merging too many reforms into a single bill risks failure due to political gridlock and lack of focus

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The Balanced American Reform Plan: Practical Steps, Measurable Results

In contrast, our proposed reform plan focuses on modular change: building block by block to create lasting reform. The idea is simple—fix what’s broken with evidence-based policies, allow flexibility, and build a self-sustaining economic structure. It includes:

• Modernizing K–12 and higher education to meet real workforce demands

• Expanding apprenticeships and certifications that actually lead to employment

• Redirecting wasteful spending toward healthcare, innovation, and job training

• Enforcing transparency in public and private sector financial practices

• Using AI responsibly in government to enhance services and cut bureaucratic costs

• Balancing the budget over time with strict fiscal accountability and realistic tax adjustments

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Why This Plan Might Work Better

While the Big Beautiful Bill sounds impressive, politics and bureaucracy often slow down or destroy overly complex legislation. Our approach builds consensus by:

• Focusing on high-return investments

• Phasing reforms so savings fund the next phase

• Providing bipartisan entry points, like vocational education, debt reduction, and innovation

• Avoiding the “all-or-nothing” pitfall that has sunk many mega-bills before

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Final Thoughts: Which Plan is Right for America?

Both plans seek a better future, but only one lays out a path that’s practical, adaptable, and rooted in real data. By implementing targeted, high-impact policies instead of sweeping, potentially chaotic overhauls, we can build a future-ready economy, an empowered workforce, and a government that serves the people.

Let’s make America not just “great again,” but smarter, fairer, and stronger for all.