Proposed amendment: National Vote of Confidence

[TechBear_Seattle]

We've been hearing about state legislatures passing resolutions asking that their Congress critters support impeachment. That got me thinking about how we really could use something with teeth.

I want something reasonably simple and unambiguous that would let the people bypass the "one party to rule them all" situation that we have now, with a president that is too incompetent to keep office and a Congress that refuses to impeach.

Ideally, we would have an election to replace the sitting president and vice-president with a new administration. That would give the people a chance to avoid where the next in line -- I believe the Speaker of the House -- is party to the failings of the executive branch. However, I've chosen not to go that way for two reasons: speed and money. It would take vast sums to pull off a presidential election out of thin air, and parties would demand extended periods of time to hold primaries and get their candidate's name and message out to the voters.

Less ideal, but with other benefits, is an impeachment by the people. Such a vote of confidence could be pulled off relatively quickly, as there are no candidates. A single, simple to understand question would be asked of all voters: "Shall the current President, <insert full name>, and the current Vice-President, <insert full name>, be removed from office?" If a majority of the people say yes, the president and vice-president will be immediately removed from office, exactly as if both had been impeached by the Senate.

Ignore for the moment how such an amendment might be proposed to the states. Where I need some help is: How might this mechanism be improved? Can it be made simpler with less wiggle room to get around it? How can this idea be translated into "amendment speak"?

Your constructive input would be most appreciated. :hi:

Here is the outline of what I have in mind for the amendment. Some of the oddness is because I've borrowed from the Constitution where I could.

A state legislature may pass a resolution calling for a national vote of confidence in the President and Vice President together. Such a resolution shall be valid until 180 days before the next regular presidential election, or until withdrawn. Resolutions shall be forwarded to the United States Senate, who shall keep a tally of what states have such resolutions active.

Upon the resolution of two-thirds of the state legislatures, the Senate shall ratify the petition for a national vote of confidence. Once ratified, a vote shall be held regardless of what resolutions might be withdrawn by the states. Once ratified, Congress shall set a date no less than ninety days and no more than 180 days after ratification. This date shall be the same for all the states.

On the day appointed, voters will be asked this question: "Shall the current President, <insert full name>, and the current Vice-President, <insert full name>, be removed from office?" Voters will be allowed to select Yes or No. A correct record of the number of votes cast for Yes and the number of votes cast for No shall be certified by the states, sealed and transmitted to the Senate. No more than thirty days after the national vote of confidence, a chosen member of the Senate other than the President of the Senate, in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives and in the view of the American people, shall open all the certificates and the votes of the people shall then be counted.

If there are more Yes votes than No votes, the President and Vice President shall be considered impeached and shall immediately be removed from office.