Michael Stern specializes in legal issues affecting Congress, including congressional ethics, elections, investigations, and lobbying. He served as Senior Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004. He later served as Deputy Staff Director for Investigations for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Special Counsel to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He co-chairs the D.C. Bar’s Administrative Law and Agency Practice Section and serves on the ABA Task Force on Lobbying Reform. Needless to say, the views expressed here are entirely his own, and should in no way be ascribed to the DC Bar, the ABA, or, heaven forfend, the United States Congress.
He may be contacted at stern8529@verizon.net.
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Hello Mr. Stern. My name is Charles Hooper, author of The Next American Revolution: How to Demand Congressional Reform NOW. The book is not a scholarly work, rather it’s written to any American capable of reading who seeks a solution to a failed Congress.
Essentially a manual for the people, it identifies the congressional electoral system as the real culprit behind our failed national legislature. In it, I argue that until the system is reformed, there will never be a Congress capable of performing its proper constitutional role. The only remedy the people have to force these reforms is through an Article V convention that proposes amendments specifically designed to restore Congress to what it was intended to be.
The amendment proposals I suggest are the 28th which limits terms in office; the 29th for campaign finance reform where donations directly to candidates will be limited to individual persons; and, the 30th, which alters the congressional district system and prohibits electoral laws favoring the two major parties.
In my book I make the argument that a revolutionary scale effort to bring about a convention can only succeed if it’s focused on a specific goal that rallies all sides of the political spectrum. Practically everybody agrees that Congress is a failure and all of us will benefit from a properly functioning legislature. My purpose in writing this book is not to presume to be a constitutional scholar or that my amendment suggestions are the only possibilities. Instead my goal is to rally citizens around a workable solution to the worst threat this country has ever faced—legislative tyranny. My hope is to stimulate debate and discussion among “regular folk” rather than among academics. It’s astonishing how few people know anything about Article V and most of those who do are only aware of the negative arguments, largely based on watching the John Birch Society video on YouTube.
I understand that you will be attending the Article V conference at Harvard. It’s my intention to try and come but in the meantime may I ask if you would like a free copy of my book? It’s very short and according to reviews and readers, it’s very good. I can either send you an electronic copy (in .pdf format) right away and/or a paperback bound copy. Please bear in mind as you read it that although it’s written for any American to be able to read, it is accurate and focused. Otherwise, thank you very much for your years of service. I especially thank you for your time.
Charles R. Hooper, MSW
Asheville, NC
Here is the link to the book’s Amazon.com page for your review:
http://www.amazon.com/Next-American-Revolution-Demand-Congressional/dp/0984387684/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1315574429&sr=8-2
Mr. Hooper- thanks very much. I look forward to reading your book and hope that I will see you next weekend.
Mr. Stern,
I am a student at Seton Hall Law School and I stumbled upon your website while researching a comment I am writing for one of the law journals here. I enjoyed reading your posts on the topic I am writing about and was hoping you could provide me with your email address to contact you with my topic, for some feedback and to bounce some ideas off of you. It is difficult to find anyone with significant knowledge in this area of Constitutional Law so any help would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Matt
Matt- sure, I would be happy to help. My email is stern8529@cox.net.
Hi Mr. Stern, somehow I never got your reply to my inquiry regarding my book. I stumbled on this page however, and the offer still stands, I just need an address. Please email me at hooperchuck@hotmail.com and let me know where to send it and I will get one right out to you. I thought the Conference was put together very well with a broad swath of opinion. The most valuable idea I left with was the idea to organize mock conventions. I think this will work at any leve, from high school to universities and from civic clubs, etc. Thanks again for your work.
Chuck
Congressional accountability?
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As of 2014, another 20 years later, the U.S. Congress has yet to make a “Rule” preventing the “Degrading” rape of and the injurious, non-consensual experiments on U.S. Military Personnel. Doesn’t this mean that the U.S. Congress is ignoring their own 54 page U.S. Senate 1994, Report 103-97, “IS MILITARY RESEARCH HAZARDOUS TO VETERANS’ HEALTH? LESSONS SPANNING HALF A CENTURY”? Documented` is their proven, “Every year, thousands of experiments utilizing human subjects are still being conducted by, or on behalf of, the DOD.”, i.e., the veteran’s betrayal by the DOD, “experiments that were designed to harm” and currently noted “Degrading Treatment” rape of service women?
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“To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces.” is the U.S. Congress’s responsibility under the U.S. Constitution, Art. I, Sect. 8, Clause 14 and under the Bill of Rights, Amendment VIII is, “…nor cruel and unusual punishments.”. And then the, “U.S. Report under the International Convent on Civil and Political Rights, July 1994 Article 7 – Freedom from Torture, or Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.”
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“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.” This is the U.S. Congress’s Oath of Office.
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1994 noted were missing applicable service records! This is again verified by Congress’s subsequent EIGHT (8) times rejection of the “Veterans Right To Know Act”! Withheld are the military needed for treatment and experimentation verifying records. On 25 July 2012 a U.S. Judge ordered the VA to release these records! Please require your members of Congress to obey their abandoned Oath of Office! Shouldn’t U.S. Service Personnel have the same U.S. Constitutional, Amendment 8, Rights that convicted rapists and murderers keep under, The International, “…Freedom from Torture, or Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.”?
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“EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW” is written above the main entrance to the U.S. Supreme Court Building. Please make this happen for veterans and active duty military men and woman!
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Thank you.
David Marshall
100% Disabled 1952-1956 USAF Veteran