In a previous letter to the editor, I?gave an outline for an expansion of the Senate into two separate chambers in the Upper and Lower Senate. The Lower Senate would be an expansion of the current Senate chamber from its current 100 members elected by popular vote to a total of 200 members.
• This would allow for a third popularly elected senator and therefore another at-large representative for each state increasing the chances of a more diverse political field.
• The fourth senator who would be a true citizen-legislator directly selected from the people for a single term in office and would further strengthen our republic and its core concept of government by the people for the people.
• Each state would have four senators in the lower chamber providing more coverage for such large population states as California, New York, Florida and Texas who are only currently covered by two senators. Smaller populated and sized states would also be further empowered and still guaranteed equality of representation in the Senate by means of the Constitution’s Article V equal suffrage clause.
• There should also be a three-term limit for the Senators directly elected by the people.
The use of three-fifths or the current 60-member majority rule to impose a time limit on filibusters would also continue and would now take 120 members or three-fifths of the Lower Senate chamber.
• There should be the creation of the 11/20th rule as a requirement of passage of any nomination, budget or legislation, etc. in the chamber as a whole. This would be 55 members our of the current 100-member body of 110 out of the 200-member expanded chamber. The creation of this rule along with the filibuster rule would prevent total dominance by any single party. The Senate is meant to be a chamber of deliberation, moderation and consensus across the board where warranted and achievable not ramming through on particular agenda over the expense of everyone and creating a cycle of ceaseless unproductive reaction and counter reaction.
Proposed Amendment of the Lower Senate
The Lower Senate of the United States shall be composed of four senators from each state, three shall be elected by the people thereof, for six years for no more than three terms and each senator shall have one vote. The fourth senator shall be a competent citizen in good standing selected by lottery and approved through a referendum as a non-partisan member of the Senate beholden to no faction or party and shall serve a single term of six years and shall have one vote.
My next letter on this subject will focus on creation of the Upper Senate chamber.
