Section 1: Repeal of the 17th Amendment

The 17th Amendment to the United States (U.S.) Constitution is hereby repealed. The election of United States Senators (SEN) shall return to the several State Legislatures, subject to the procedures and integrity safeguards outlined in this Article.

Section 2: The Nomination Process (The Peer-Vetting Filter)

Whenever a vacancy occurs, the selection process shall be as follows:

• Eligibility: All nominees must have served a minimum of four (4) years in the State Legislature (SL) prior to nomination.
• Legislative Nominations: The majority and principal minority parties within both the State House of Representatives (HOR) and the State Senate shall each caucus independently and elect, by majority vote, two (2) qualified members from their respective chambers.
• The Pool: This shall result in eight (8) nominees: four (4) from the majority party and four (4) from the principal minority party.

Section 3: Narrowing the Field (The Integrity Lot)

To eliminate cronyism, the field shall be narrowed by lot:

• The Drawing: In a public forum, the Secretary of State (SOS) shall utilize standardized lottery equipment to randomly select one (1) nominee from the majority party pool and one (1) nominee from the minority party pool.
• The Finalists: These two individuals shall serve as the final candidates.

Section 4: The Joint Conclave (The Final Appointment)

• Joint Conclave: The State House and State Senate shall meet in a Joint Conclave, presided over by the Governor (GOV).
• Sequestration: The Legislature shall remain in session and shall not adjourn until a final selection is made.
• Selection: A Senator shall be appointed upon receiving a majority vote of the total membership of the combined chambers. The Governor shall have no vote.

Section 5: Duty of Advice and Consent (Legislative Oversight)

To maintain the bond between the State and its Federal representation, every United States Senator (SEN) shall participate in formal Advice and Consent hearings.

• Frequency: These hearings shall occur quarterly while the State Legislature (SL) is in session.
• Interim Provision: When the Legislature is not in session, the Senator shall appear at least once every six (6) months before a standing Interim Committee on Federal Relations.
• Purpose: The Senator shall report on federal legislation and receive formal guidance regarding the State's sovereign interests.

Section 6: Accountability (Recall for Cause)

• Initiation: The power to initiate a Recall for Cause shall be vested in the Governor, the Majority Leader of the State House, or the Majority Leader of the State Senate.
• Defining Cause: "Cause" shall be strictly defined as malfeasance, neglect of duty, or conduct unbecoming of a public official.
• Recall Procedure: Upon a formal recall request, a Joint Session of the State Legislature, presided over by the Governor, shall be held within thirty (30) days.
• Due Process: The charging officer or their representative shall present the case for recall. The Senator need not be physically present, so as not to disrupt Federal Senate business, but shall be entitled to legal representation.
• The Vote: A two-thirds (2/3) supermajority vote of the total membership of the Joint Session is required to vacate the seat.
• Replacement Timeline: If vacated, a new Senator must be installed via the process in Sections 2–4 within thirty (30) days.
• Term Duration: Any Senator appointed following a recall shall serve only for the remainder of the existing six-year term.

Restoring Federalism and Legislative Integrity in the 21st Century

The Constitutional "Emergency Brake"

When the Founders gathered in Philadelphia, they weren't just building a government; they were balancing a scale. On one side was the House of Representatives (HOR), designed to be the “feverish” voice of the people. On the other side was the United States Senate (SEN), the “cooling saucer,” whose primary purpose was to represent the sovereign States themselves.

The original Constitution required State Legislatures to choose their Senators. This served as the “emergency brake” on federal overreach. If the Federal Government (FG) attempted to pass laws that infringed on state authority, Senators—accountable to their State Legislatures—could block them.

In 1913, the 17th Amendment severed this safeguard. By shifting to direct election, the nation didn’t merely “expand democracy”; it fundamentally altered the mechanics of Federalism.

The Tragedy of the 17th Amendment

The 17th Amendment emerged as a response to corruption and legislative deadlocks in the early 20th century. While those issues were real, the cure proved worse than the disease. By transforming the Senate into a second, slower House, the Amendment stripped State governments of their only seat at the federal table.

Today, Senators from states like Montana or Tennessee answer not to the people who run those states, but to national political parties and out-of-state donors. Modern Senate races have become $100 million media spectacles. The result is a Federal Government that has grown massive and unchecked, precisely because states no longer have a direct voice capable of saying “no.”

Moving Past Cold War Thinking

Many current political leaders are products of Cold War (CW) era thinking, when centralized power was viewed as essential for global stability. But the challenges of the 21st century—cybersecurity, land management, water rights, and local economic resilience—require a nimble government that respects local expertise.

The Federalism and Legislative Integrity Act (FLIA) recognizes that the knowledge found in State Legislatures is more relevant to citizens’ daily lives than top-down mandates from Washington (WDC). By requiring Senators to have served at least four years in their State Legislature, the FLIA ensures that Senators understand the states they represent. It replaces “celebrity politicians” with “citizen-statesmen.”

The FLIA Solution: Tamper-Proof Selection

Critics of repealing the 17th Amendment fear a return to “smoke-filled rooms” and partisan gridlock. The FLIA addresses this by establishing a modern, tamper-proof selection process.

• The Nomination Pool: Candidates are nominated by both the majority and minority caucuses of the State Legislature, ensuring a diverse pool of experienced leaders.
• The Governor’s Draw: To prevent political manipulation, the final nominees are selected by lot. This element of sortition adds fairness the original Constitution lacked.
• The Joint Conclave: The final appointment is made through a public, transparent vote of the combined legislative body.

This is not a step backward—it is a leap forward. It preserves the Founders’ intent while adding modern safeguards, ensuring that Senators serve as true emissaries of their states rather than products of national political machinery.

Restoring State Sovereignty

State sovereignty is not a relic; it is the cornerstone of a stable Republic. Strong states create a resilient nation. Weak states—reduced to administrative districts of the federal government—create brittleness.

Under the FLIA, Senators once again represent their State’s interests. Through mandatory Advice and Consent hearings, Senators must regularly report to the officials who manage the state’s resources. If a Senator prioritizes national party goals over state needs, the Legislature holds the power of Recall for Cause. This “short leash” ensures the federal government remains a servant of the states.

The "Indispensable" Myth and Generational Renewal

Washington (WDC) often claims that long-serving Senators are “indispensable” due to seniority. This is a myth. The nation is filled with capable individuals ready to serve. In positions of power, there is always someone prepared to step in.

By restoring the pipeline from State Legislatures to the Senate, the FLIA creates a system of Generational Renewal. It disrupts the “permanent political class” and replaces it with leaders who remain connected to their home districts and the real challenges their neighbors face.

Conclusion: Putting the States Back in the United States

The Federalism and Legislative Integrity Act is one of the most significant structural reforms available to preserve the Republic. It restores a system in which states are co-equal partners in the American experiment.

This reform does not take power away from the people—it moves power closer to them. By empowering State Legislatures to choose Senators who represent the state’s sovereign interests, the United States becomes truly “United,” not merely “Uniform.”

It is time to restore the sentinel. It is time to repeal the 17th Amendment and enact the FLIA.

To the Editor

In 1913, we broke the fundamental machinery of our Republic. By ratifying the 17th Amendment and moving to the direct election of Senators, we didn't just “expand democracy”—we stripped our State governments of their only seat at the federal table.

The Founders designed the United States Senate (SEN) to be the sentinel of state sovereignty. It was intended to serve as the “emergency brake” on federal overreach. Today, that brake is gone. Our Senators no longer answer to the people running our states; they answer to national party bosses and out-of-state donors. A modern Senate race has become a multi-million-dollar beauty contest that ignores the real needs of our local communities.

I am advocating for a Constitutional Amendment to repeal the 17th Amendment and restore the original balance of power. This is not about returning to “smoke-filled rooms.” It is a 21st-century upgrade that requires Senators to have served at least four years in their State Legislature, ensuring they understand our state's needs. Through a tamper-proof selection process and the power of Recall for Cause, we can ensure that our Senators remain accountable to the States rather than their donors.

The risk to our Republic from corruption and crony capitalism is simply too great to ignore. We must return to a system where the states are co-equal partners, not administrative districts of a massive federal bureaucracy. I invite readers to review the full amendment and white paper at MikeforMontana.com. It is time to put the States back in the United States.

Sincerely,
Michael Hummert
Candidate for United States Senate

The Crisis of Perpetual Power

The American Republic was founded on the principle of the “citizen-legislator”—the idea that individuals would leave their farms, shops, and businesses to serve their neighbors in the nation’s capital for a short season before returning home to live under the very laws they had helped create. Today, that vision has been replaced by a permanent political class. The United States Congress (CONG) has become a career destination, where tenure is measured in decades rather than years, and where the primary objective often shifts from public service to personal and political preservation.

This professionalization of politics has created a massive disconnect between the governed and those who govern, fostering an environment where corruption is not just an anomaly, but a structural reality.

The Corrosion of the Permanent Campaign

The current structure of the Legislative Branch (LEG) forces a “perpetual campaign” cycle that is detrimental to sound governance. Members of the House of Representatives (HOR), facing election every two years, must begin fundraising for their next term almost immediately after being sworn in. This constant need for capital creates a “pay-to-play” culture where the needs of large donors and special interest groups often overshadow the needs of constituents.

By extending House terms to four years and synchronizing them with a reduced four-year Senate (SEN) term, the Congressional Tenure and Accountability Amendment introduces a much-needed pause in the electoral cycle. This shift allows legislators to focus on long-term policy impacts rather than short-term political optics. It moves the incentive away from perpetual fundraising and back toward genuine legislating.

Ending the “Revolving Door” and Institutional Corruption

Corruption in Washington (WDC) is rarely a simple bribe; it is more often a subtle, systemic rot. When a Member of Congress (CONG) remains in office for thirty or forty years, they build deep, impenetrable networks with lobbyists, bureaucrats, and special interest groups. This “Iron Triangle” ensures that the same voices dominate policy discussions while the average citizen’s voice is filtered out.

The twelve-year lifetime limit is the only surgical tool capable of cutting these entrenched ties. By ensuring that no individual can spend a lifetime in the halls of power, the Amendment breaks the “Revolving Door.” When politicians know their time in Washington is limited, they have less incentive to build a monopoly of influence for future personal gain. They are reminded that they are citizens first—individuals who will soon return to private life.

The Necessity of “New Blood” and Cognitive Diversity

The world is changing faster than ever, yet our legislative body is often led by individuals whose foundational experiences belong to a different century. While experience is valuable, it can also become a barrier to innovation. A permanent political class tends to protect the status quo because they built it.

Term limits ensure a constant influx of “new blood”—individuals with fresh perspectives, modern technical expertise, and a direct connection to today’s economy. By rotating membership in Congress (CONG), we bring in new ideas and energy, ensuring that our laws reflect current realities rather than outdated dogmas. This rotation is not a rejection of wisdom; it is a commitment to a dynamic, responsive government.

Restoring the “One Person, One Vote” Reality

In the current system, the power of a vote is often diluted by the weight of incumbency. Through gerrymandering and massive fundraising advantages, career politicians create “safe seats” that are nearly impossible to challenge. This effectively disenfranchises millions of voters who feel their choice is irrelevant because the outcome is predetermined.

Term limits restore a level playing field by ensuring regular, competitive open-seat elections. When incumbents must eventually step down, new voices have a genuine opportunity to compete on the merit of their ideas. This revitalizes democratic competition and forces candidates to earn the trust of their neighbors rather than rely on name recognition and financial dominance.

A Fair and Orderly Transition

A common criticism of term limits is the potential loss of institutional knowledge. The Congressional Tenure and Accountability Amendment addresses this through its staggered implementation and “Grace Period” provision. By dividing seats into Section A and Section B classes, the Amendment ensures that half of the experienced members remain while the other half transitions out.

This creates a sustainable mentor–protégé model within Congress (CONG), preserving essential expertise while still enforcing the twelve-year limit. It is an orderly exit from the era of the career politician and a structured return to the era of the citizen-legislator.

Conclusion: Returning the Sovereignty to the People

The Congressional Tenure and Accountability Amendment is a declaration that the government belongs to the people, not the politicians. It is a structural solution to a structural crisis. By ending lifetime service, we dismantle the machinery of corruption, silence the perpetual campaign, and ensure that those who make our laws must eventually live under them as ordinary citizens.

This is not merely about changing the faces in Washington (WDC); it is about changing the culture of power. It restores the humility, urgency, and accountability that the Founders intended for our Republic. It is time to break the permanent political class and return sovereignty to its rightful owners: the American People.

To the Editor

The American Republic was founded on the principle of the “citizen-legislator”—the idea that individuals serve their neighbors for a season and then return home to live under the laws they helped create. Today, that vision has been replaced by a permanent political class in Washington (WDC), where tenure is measured in decades and public service has become a lifelong career of power and fundraising.

I am proposing the Congressional Tenure and Accountability Amendment to break this cycle. This is a structural reset that establishes a twelve-year lifetime limit for all members of Congress (CONG), whether they serve in the House or the Senate. By extending House terms to four years and synchronizing them with the Senate, we end the “permanent campaign” and the nonstop pursuit of donor cash that fuels corruption.

This amendment is not about discarding experience; it uses a staggered “Class A and B” system to ensure an orderly transition while continually bringing in the “new blood” and fresh ideas our country desperately needs. It forces our leaders to remember that they are, first and foremost, citizens.

This is not a perfect document yet; it must go through the rigors of Congress. I am simply letting you know, as a candidate, that this is what I support to move our country forward. I invite every Montanan to review the full amendment and my detailed white paper at MikeforMontana.com. Let us end the era of career politicians and return the sovereignty of this nation to the American People.

Sincerely,
Michael Hummert
Candidate for United States Senate

Section 1: Jurisdictional Delineation and Purpose

This Article shall apply exclusively to elections for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, the President of the United States, and the Vice President of the United States, hereinafter referred to as “Federal Elections.”

The People’s Priority: Congress shall act in a strictly non-partisan manner with an unwavering commitment to fairness for all candidates and citizens. Its sole authority to regulate Federal Elections is for the purpose of ensuring that the voice of the individual citizen remains the primary concern and is not overshadowed by aggregated wealth or foreign advantage.

Oversight and Enforcement: It is the sole responsibility of Congress to ensure oversight of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the continual and rigorous enforcement of election laws. Such enforcement must be non-partisan to ensure a well-informed and legally established voter base.

Section 2: Legal Status of Entities and Money

To restore the sovereignty of the individual citizen over the political process:

• Corporate Personhood: Legal entities, including but not limited to corporations, limited liability companies, labor unions, and non-profit organizations, are not “persons” or “citizens” under this Constitution. Such entities shall have no right to expend funds, provide in-kind services, or otherwise influence any Federal Election.
• Money as Commerce: Money is a medium of commerce and is not a form of protected speech. Congress shall regulate and limit the funding and advertising for all Federal Elections to ensure the voice of the individual citizen is not overshadowed by aggregated wealth or the advantaging of any entity over the citizen.

Section 3: Voter Identification and Citizenship Verification

To verify the eligibility of the electorate and protect the “one person, one vote” principle:

• Approved Identification: No person shall vote in a Federal Election without presenting a National Election Integrity Card (NEIC), a valid United States Passport, or a State-issued REAL ID, provided said REAL ID was issued only upon verified proof of United States citizenship.
• The NEIC Standard: The National Election Integrity Card shall be issued by local voting precincts at no cost to the citizen. The evidentiary standards for issuance shall match those required for a United States Passport or REAL ID, requiring original proof of citizenship (Birth Certificate or Certificate of Naturalization).
• Mandatory Labeling: Any State issuing identification to an individual who is not a United States citizen must clearly and indelibly print “NOT A U.S. CITIZEN” on the face of the document. Such documents are strictly prohibited for use in Federal Elections.

Section 4: The Secure Ballot and Multi-Layered Verification

All Federal Elections shall utilize a “Trust but Verify” system using contemporary technology:

• Voter Matching: Every voter on the registration roll shall have a unique, encrypted security code. At the time of voting, this code shall be scanned and matched to a corresponding serialized code on the physical paper ballot.
• Serialization and Watermarks: All ballots shall be serialized. Watermarks are mandatory for any ballot cast via mail-in or drop-box.
• Duplicate Detection: In the event of duplicate serial numbers, the system shall automatically reject both ballots for manual validation. The physical paper ballot remains the final legal authority. Manual audits of serialized ballots are mandatory in any contested result.

Section 5: The Digital Public Square and Awareness Mandate

• Access: Six (6) months prior to a Federal Primary, the Federal Government shall provide a digital platform for all candidates registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to communicate directly with citizens.
• Rebuttal: Any candidate’s reference to an opponent triggers a direct, automated link to that opponent’s platform for clarification or rebuttal.
• Awareness: The Federal Government is constitutionally required to use Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and national advertising to ensure all citizens are aware of the Digital Public Square and the importance of being an informed voter.

Section 6: Campaign Finance and the Funding Formula

• Primary Phase: Candidates may only accept contributions from individual United States citizens, subject to Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations.
• Authorization Mandate: No advertisement advocating for or against a candidate may be distributed unless explicitly authorized by a candidate and subject to all FEC regulations.
• General Phase Funding Formula: Following the primary, the Federal Government shall provide an equal, standardized grant to all qualified candidates or ticket pairs, calculated using the Federal Campaign Equity Formula (FCEF):
  • Population Base: A set dollar amount per verified citizen voter.
  • Geographic Multiplier: Additional allocation based on total landmass square mileage.
  • The Deduction: Any funds remaining from a candidate’s primary campaign shall be deducted from their total federal grant. Once the general election begins, private contributions are prohibited.

Section 7: Census and Apportionment

• Total Count: The Census shall continue to count all persons residing in the United States, regardless of legal status, for national statistics and resource allocation.
• Citizen-Only Apportionment: For the purposes of apportioning the House of Representatives and calculating the Electoral College, only United States citizens shall be counted.
• Representation: Non-citizens, whether legal residents or illegal immigrants, shall not be included in the tally used to determine Congressional seats or the distribution of political power among the States.

Introduction: The Crisis of Trust

The American experiment relies upon a single, fragile foundation: the consent of the governed. Today, that consent is fractured. Whether through the perceived influence of “dark money,” the complexity of modern election logistics, or the ambiguity surrounding the citizenship of the electorate, the American voter increasingly feels like a spectator in their own democracy.

To restore the Republic, we must move beyond temporary legislative fixes and establish a permanent, constitutional framework that secures the vote, protects the voice of the individual, and clarifies the boundaries of representation. This proposed Amendment serves as that framework—a comprehensive structural reset designed to return power to the individual citizen.

The Delineation of Authority and the Fairness Mandate

Central to this proposal is the clear separation of Federal and State election authority. By focusing exclusively on Federal offices—the House, Senate, and Presidency—the Amendment respects the constitutional sovereignty of the States while ensuring that those sent to the nation’s capital are elected under a unified, high-security standard.

This authority is not a blank check for partisan gain. By mandating that Congress and the Department of Justice act in a strictly non-partisan manner, the Amendment removes the “weaponization” of election law. Oversight becomes a neutral guardian of the process, ensuring fairness to all candidates and placing the integrity of the system above the victory of any faction.

Redefining Personhood and the Medium of Exchange

The modern political landscape has been distorted by the legal fiction that artificial entities possess the same constitutional rights as citizens. This Amendment corrects that by explicitly stating that corporations and labor unions are not “persons.” By decoupling “money” from “speech,” campaign spending is redefined as commerce—a medium that can be regulated to prevent the drowning out of the individual’s voice.

This is not a restriction on speech, but a protection of it. It ensures that a citizen’s vote and voice carry equal weight regardless of wealth. It ends the era of the “corporate overlord” and restores the “Individual Citizen” as the sole unit of political power.

The Technological and Physical Security of the Vote

Voter trust cannot be restored by rhetoric alone; it requires a physical and technological “lock and key.” By establishing a National Election Integrity Card (NEIC) with evidentiary standards equal to a U.S. Passport, the Amendment removes ambiguity about who is entitled to vote.

Security continues at the ballot box. Encrypted voter-matching codes paired with serialized paper ballots create a verifiable audit trail resistant to digital tampering. Mandatory watermarks for mail-in and drop-box ballots address the unique vulnerabilities of remote voting. In all cases, the physical paper ballot remains the final legal authority.

Equity in the Information Age

A secure vote is meaningless if the voter is not informed. The “Digital Public Square” and the “Public Awareness Mandate” transform the government into an active facilitator of an informed electorate. By providing a free, equal-access platform for all qualified candidates, the Amendment breaks the media monopoly on political discourse.

The automated “Right of Rebuttal” ensures political communication becomes a dialogue rather than a series of unchallenged attacks. Combined with mandatory federal advertising directing citizens to this platform, the system ensures that ideas—not ad budgets—determine the winner.

Fiscal Parity and the Geographic Reality

One of the most innovative aspects of this proposal is the Federal Campaign Equity Formula. It acknowledges the physical reality of the American landscape. A one-size-fits-all funding model fails to account for the vast differences between a dense urban district and a sprawling rural state.

By factoring both population and landmass into the federal grant, the formula ensures that every candidate has the practical means to reach their constituents. The “Deduction Rule” prevents the accumulation of massive war chests, ensuring that once the general election begins, every candidate starts from the same financial baseline—accountable only to the taxpayers who funded their grant.

Census Integrity and the Definition of Representation

The Amendment secures the very definition of representation. While the Census must remain a tool for understanding the total population, the political power derived from those numbers must be reserved for citizens alone.

This preserves the “Sovereignty of the Citizen” by ensuring that representation is a right shared only by those who are part of the American body politic. It removes any incentive to use non-citizen populations to shift political power, anchoring our democracy firmly in the hands of the American people.

Conclusion: A Path Forward

This Amendment is not offered as a panacea, but as a principled starting point. It recognizes that our current system is failing both the people and the principles of the Founders. By securing the identity of the voter, the sanctity of the ballot, and the fairness of the funding, we can begin to rebuild the trust that has been lost.

It is a commitment to a future where elections are sound, leaders are accountable, and the voice of the individual citizen is once again the most powerful force in the land.

Section 1: Mandatory Retirement Age

No person shall be eligible to be elected or appointed to any office of the United States, nor shall any person continue to serve in any elected, appointed, or employed position within the Federal Government (FG), including in an “Acting” or “Interim” capacity, after attaining the age of seventy-four (74) years.

Section 2: Application to Federal Offices, Employment, and Advisory

This Article shall apply to all branches of the Federal Government, specifically:

• The President and Vice President.
• All Members of the United States House of Representatives (HOR) and the United States Senate (SEN).
• All Federal Judges and Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Justices.
• All Civil Service employees, contractors, and Military personnel.

Prohibition on Shadow Service: The Federal Government is strictly prohibited from entering into contracts or “consulting” agreements for policy, advisory, or leadership services with any individual who has exceeded the age limit set forth in Section 1.

Section 3: Conclusion of Service and Vacancies

Any individual who attains the age of seventy-four (74) shall conclude their service within two (2) years of their 74th birthday. No extension shall be granted for any reason, including during a declared national emergency. Upon the conclusion of this period, the office or position shall be deemed vacant by operation of law.

Section 4: Judicial Senior Status

Justices or Judges attaining the age of seventy-four (74) shall be moved to “Senior Status.” They may conclude existing cases but are prohibited from hearing new matters. A vacancy for their active seat shall be declared immediately upon their 74th birthday.

Section 5: Implementation

This Article shall take effect on the first day of the second year following its ratification.

The Imperative of Generational Renewal

A Republic is a living organism, and its health depends on a cycle of renewal. For too long, the United States has allowed its most critical positions of power to be held by individuals well into their eighties and nineties. The Presidency, a seat in Congress (CONG), and the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) are high-pressure, grueling jobs that require peak mental and physical performance.

There is a point where the person in the office can no longer meet these demands, and at that point, they become a liability to the country. No one, regardless of past brilliance, is immune to the decline that comes with age. Establishing a clear, constitutional boundary ensures our leaders are always capable of defending the nation.

The Biological Reality and National Security

The decision to set the mandatory retirement age at seventy-four is grounded in data from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), which shows that the risk of cognitive impairment increases sharply after age 75. Studies on “fluid intelligence”—the ability to solve new problems and process information quickly—show a significant decline in the mid-70s.

In an era of cyber-warfare and instantaneous global threats, our leaders must possess peak processing speeds. Relying on individuals statistically at the highest risk for cognitive slowing is a gamble with national security. No one is immune to the passage of time.

The “Indispensable” Fallacy

A dangerous sentiment in Washington (WDC) is that certain leaders are “indispensable.” This undermines representative democracy. No one is irreplaceable. The strength of our system lies in its institutions, not in the personalities of a few aging individuals.

History shows that whenever a position of power is vacated, capable and talented people step forward. By holding onto power past the age of 74, incumbents suppress the next generation of leaders. Somebody is always waiting to take the position, and that is exactly how a healthy Republic should function.

The Administrative State and Shadow Power

One of the most critical aspects of the Federal Leadership Age and Competency Amendment is its application to the broader federal workforce. The “permanent government” of career bureaucrats often wields more influence than elected officials. When individuals remain in power for 50 years, they become insulated from the will of the voters.

By enforcing a mandatory retirement age for all federal employees and contractors, the Amendment dismantles entrenched fiefdoms. It closes the “Consultant Loophole,” where an official retires only to be rehired at higher cost. This keeps government dynamic and prevents institutional rot.

Standardization Across the Branches

We already acknowledge the necessity of age limits in other high-stakes professions. Commercial pilots must retire at 65. High-ranking military officers face mandatory retirement ages. These rules exist because public safety and mission effectiveness outweigh any one person’s desire to continue working.

It is inconsistent to demand peak performance from a pilot while allowing the person with the “nuclear football” or the Justices who interpret our highest laws to serve indefinitely. A universal standard of 74 across the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches brings long-overdue common sense to federal leadership.

Conclusion: A Commitment to the Future

This amendment is not an attack on age; it is an act of preservation for the Republic. It recognizes that the future belongs to those who will live in it. By establishing a firm end-date for federal service, we ensure that our government is always looking forward, not backward.

We replace the stagnation of a gerontocracy with the energy of a meritocracy. It is time to secure the vitality of our nation by ensuring our leaders are in their prime, not in their twilight. We must have the courage to pass the torch.

The Choice: Steve Daines The Corporate Manager vs. Michael Hummert The Structural Architect — Our Future Hangs in the Balance

If you are looking for a high-level executive to run a global conglomerate—someone who can manage a brand and satisfy a board of directors—then Steve Daines the Corporate Manager is an exceptional candidate.

But a United States Senator is not a CEO, and a Republic is not a subsidiary. The last 14 years have proven that the "Corporatist" model is not just failing our country; it is actively cannibalizing it.

1. The Reality of the "Machine" vs. the Country

I am not here to save the Democratic or the Republican Party. I am here to save the American Republic.

The Corporatist Reality: Everything Steve Daines does is geared toward the survival of the political architecture—the party power, the donor relationships, and the "Safe Seat." If the machine is running, the manager is successful, even if the country it sits upon is rotting from within.

The Structuralist Reality: I understand that the machine must exist, but it must be secondary to the survival of our country. If our sound money is gone, our financial system is worthless. I am not interested in incentivizing companies with subsidies and tax breaks that shift with the political wind.

The Goal: We must provide a Sound Footing that is consistent, reasonable, and predictable. We need a justice system that treats everyone the same, whether rich or poor—a legal system built on Reality, not loopholes and high-priced lawyers. If we provide consistency and fairness, companies will return to the United States because stability is worth more to a business than a temporary tax break.

2. The "Debt as an Asset" Trap

In the private sector, a corporation borrows capital to create a product and pay back the debt with profit.

The Reality Was: When a government is run like a corporation, it borrows without a product. It plunders the tax base to create a debt that it never intends to pay off.

The Gingrich Revelation: When asked why he didn't push through a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA), the answer was profound: If a BBA had been in place in 2000, projections showed the national debt would have been paid off by 2009. No more government bonds. Wall Street and the banking system demanded a place to park money in a "safe paper asset."

The Reality Is: We were sold out. The corporatist is not trying to fix the debt; he is busy providing his "shareholders" (donors) with a taxpayer-backed asset at the expense of our children’s future.

3. The Reality of the "Corporate Governance" of America

Only a blind man could fail to see that every policy set in place since the 2000 financial crisis has been designed to grow the "Machine" while plundering the citizen.

The Fact: We have seen trillions in tax cuts, bailouts, and subsidies for corporations. Even our immigration system is geared toward providing corporations with cheap labor, regardless of the impact on our communities.

The Failures of Leadership: Recent administrations had the opportunity to fix our problems with a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA). Neither did. None of them have ever had to live under fiscal restraint like the 69% of American families who live paycheck to paycheck.

4. The Audit: How the Architect Fixes the Machine

The corporatist uses "Wedge Issues" to manage his market share of voters. I use Concrete Ideas to retool the system.

Conclusion: Death’s Ground

We are currently on Death’s Ground. This borrowing will end—it’s just a matter of whether it ends through our choice or through our collapse. For the corporatist, default is not an option, so they will choose to inflate the economy until it collapses under its own weight.

Steve Daines manages "customers" by telling them what they want to hear while delivering what his "shareholders" (the donors) want to see.

I represent "citizens" by providing the written, concrete architecture to fix the engine of our Republic.

The 42-section blueprint to retool immigration is the first leg of a structural reset that includes the Repeal of the 17th Amendment to restore state sovereignty, Mandatory Retirement Ages and 12-year Lifetime Term Limits to break the stagnant machine, and a National Election Integrity Card with Serialized Paper Ballots to secure the sovereignty of the citizen.

These pillars, combined with a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) and a clear 5-Year Path to Fiscal Responsibility, are the only way to stop the plundering of our nation. We don't need another manager to "refine" our decline. We need an architect to rebuild our future.

Introduction

I’m running for the United States Senate because I believe America has a right to remain a nation—sovereign, secure, and financially solvent. It may not be a perfect bill, but it is all inclusive. If you want it to be a perfect bill, it will have to be signed by the President after many people have input. Most candidates speak in slogans. I wrote a 42‑section bill and put my name on it.

The American Sovereignty, Security, and Migration Act of 2026

The American Sovereignty, Security, and Migration Act of 2026 is the framework for what I’m willing to do: restore control of entry, close executive workarounds, require financial independence for non‑citizens so taxpayers aren’t left holding the bag, protect American wages, and make enforcement simple, uniform, and scalable.

But it’s also something Congress has refused to give the country for decades: consistency. Consistency for the American people, and consistency for the migrant community as well—regardless of which party holds the White House or which political mood is dominating Washington.

A nation cannot function when immigration policy is rewritten every election cycle through loopholes, memos, mass parole programs, selective non‑enforcement, and legal gray zones. This bill is designed to create one enforceable standard that does not swing with politics, and to close loopholes not just for migrants, but for politicians and special interests who have learned how to exploit confusion for power and profit.

Protecting America’s Cultural Foundation

A country is more than an economy. It’s a culture. It’s a shared language, shared civic norms, shared expectations of law and behavior, and a shared belief that people are equal under the law—so no one gets to put their thumb on the scale.

It’s the everyday trust that lets neighbors live side by side, lets communities raise children safely, and lets citizens disagree without the country breaking apart. When a nation loses control of entry and enforcement, it doesn’t just lose money—it loses cohesion. It loses the ability to decide what it stands for, and it becomes vulnerable to fragmentation, parallel societies, imported conflict, and the slow erosion of the civic habits that keep a free people free.

America’s culture isn’t about race or ancestry. It’s about rule of law, ordered liberty, personal responsibility, honest work, equal treatment, and loyalty to the Constitution above any foreign government, faction, or ideology. If we don’t protect that, we will eventually discover that prosperity without cohesion is just decay with better branding.

Accountability and Legislative Responsibility

I’m not pretending this bill is perfect. I’m not a legal scholar. But I am doing what Congress refuses to do: put a complete plan on paper, accept accountability for it, and invite the public to scrutinize it.

If we want a serious path to fiscal responsibility—including a balanced budget amendment—then we must stop creating long‑term obligations through short‑sighted policy and political avoidance.

Conclusion

If you want to know what I stand for, don’t listen to a talking point. Read the bill.

—Michael Hummert, Candidate for U.S. Senate

A Foundational Reset for American Immigration in the 21st Century

I. The Crisis of Ambiguity: Why a Reset is Necessary

The current American immigration system is not a "system" in any functional sense; it is a sedimentary layer of reactive memos, executive workarounds, and "settlement-by-delay" mechanisms. For decades, the United States has operated under a regime of strategic ambiguity, where the lack of clear statutory enforcement serves as a pressure valve for political and commercial interests.

This ambiguity fails everyone:

• For Citizens: It erodes the rule of law, strains local infrastructure, and externalizes the costs of non-citizen presence onto the taxpayer.
• For Migrants: It creates a "legal limbo" where people live in the shadows for years, vulnerable to exploitation and subject to the whims of whichever party holds the White House.

The American Sovereignty, Security, and Migration Act of 2026 recognizes that a nation without a defined, enforceable border is not a sovereign state, but a geographic convenience. The necessity for this Act lies in the transition from discretionary chaos to statutory consistency.

II. Financial Sovereignty: Ending the Taxpayer Subsidy

The most radical and necessary shift in this legislation is the move toward financial independence for non-citizens. For too long, the immigration debate has ignored the fiscal reality of the "public charge." This Act addresses this through three specific mechanisms:

The Migrant Solvency Account (MSA): By requiring a 5% payroll withholding into a restricted-use account, the Act ensures that the costs of a migrant’s presence—specifically medical deductibles and removal costs—are pre-funded.

The Migrant Surety Bond (MSB): A $5,000 repatriation surety removes the financial incentive for the government to delay removals due to "budgetary constraints."

Catastrophic Health Coverage: Requiring private insurance with a $5,000 deductible closes the "emergency room loophole," ensuring that non-citizen healthcare does not become uncompensated taxpayer-funded debt.

This structure creates Taxpayer Neutrality. It allows for the presence of guest workers and residents without creating a long-term liability for the American citizen, turning "solvency" into a prerequisite for "presence."

III. Labor Market Integrity: Protecting the American Wage

A major finding of this Act is that certain commercial interests have used the immigration system to suppress domestic wages. The American Sovereignty, Security, and Migration Act counters this with the "Hire Americans First" framework.

By professionalizing the compliance process through Chief Immigration Compliance Officers (CICOs) and Tiered Penalties, the Act targets the "Architects of Fraud"—the employers who profit from illegal labor—rather than just the workers they employ.

IV. The "10+10" Tenure Track: A Realistic Path to Cohesion

Perhaps the most significant contribution of this bill to national security and social cohesion is the Migrant TT (Tenure Track). By requiring 10 years of Probationary status followed by 10 years of Tenured status, the Act establishes a 20-year "door" to citizenship.

This length of time is not punitive; it is stabilizing. It ensures that those who eventually naturalize have spent two decades demonstrating civic mastery, English proficiency, and financial solvency. It effectively kills the "lottery" mentality and replaces it with a meritocratic apprenticeship in American life.

Furthermore, the Act’s Values Contract and English Proficiency Standards address the cultural dimension of sovereignty. By being explicit about rule-of-law expectations—rejecting honor violence, religious intimidation, and similar practices—the law protects the civic habits that keep a free people free.

V. Closing the Executive Loopholes: Reclaiming Article I Power

The Act is a direct assault on Executive Overreach. By repealing legacy asylum (8 U.S.C. § 1158), withholding of removal, and mass parole programs, it returns the "keys" of entry to Congress.

Section 18 (NRPD): Replaces the wide-open "asylum" loophole with a narrow "torture-only" non-removal protection that does not confer work authorization or status.

Section 35: Bans "mass parole" and "Deferred Action" programs.

Section 25: Mandates that the government—not NGOs—owns the code and the logistics of the system.

This prevents the "NGO Logistics Network" from functioning as a shadow government that facilitates mass entry through federal grants. It forces the system to be a governmental function, subject to the oversight of the Sovereignty Council and the Under Secretary.

VI. Safety for the Migrant: The Security of Rules

While the Act is "strict by design," it actually provides a level of safety and security for the migrant that current law lacks.

Consistency: A migrant knows exactly where they stand. If they are solvent and law-abiding, they have a secure "card" and a clear path. They aren't waiting for a "memo" from D.C. to know if they’ll be deported tomorrow.

Protection from Exploitation: By mandating wage floors and formalizing employment, it removes the "shadow economy" where migrants are often abused or underpaid by unscrupulous employers.

The "Golden Parachute": Section 12(10) allows for the refund of solvency accounts upon voluntary departure, encouraging migrants who choose to return home to do so with the capital they earned, further stabilizing their home countries.

VII. Conclusion: A Nation, Not an Economy

The American Sovereignty, Security, and Migration Act of 2026 is more than an immigration bill; it is a declaration of national intent. It moves the United States away from being a mere "labor market" and back toward being a sovereign Republic.

By codifying Entry Without Inspection (EWI) consequences, establishing a DNA Paternity Pathway for birthright integrity, and creating a Public-Space Biometric Pilot to target final orders of removal, the bill ensures that the "rule of law" is not a suggestion, but a requirement.

This Act provides the "consistency" that has been missing for forty years. It protects the American worker from wage suppression, the American taxpayer from insolvency, and the American neighbor from the erosion of civic trust. It is the necessary foundation for any serious attempt to balance the budget and secure the future of the Republic.

Most politicians treat immigration as a collection of slogans. I’ve taken a different path: I wrote a 42‑section bill called the American Sovereignty, Security, and Migration Act. I’m putting it on paper so you can scrutinize it, because the risk to our Republic from corruption and crony capitalism is simply too great to endure any longer.

Our current system is built on "settlement-by-delay" and executive loopholes. My plan replaces that chaos with Financial Sovereignty. Under this Act, non‑citizens are required to maintain private catastrophic health insurance and personal solvency accounts. This ensures that the costs of their presence never fall on the American taxpayer. We are ending the era of uncompensated medical debt and externalized costs.

Furthermore, we are protecting the American wage. By imposing a 10% labor tariff on non‑citizen hires and requiring employers to "Hire Americans First," we remove the incentive for big business to suppress local wages with cheap labor.

A country is more than an economy—it’s a culture held together by the rule of law. We must stop creating long‑term obligations through short‑sighted political avoidance. No one is irreplaceable, and no special interest is above the sovereignty of the United States. I invite every Montanan to read the full bill at Mikeformontana.com. Let’s move past the talking points and get to work on a real solution.

Sincerely,
Michael Hummert
Candidate for U.S. Senate

118th Congress — 1st Session

H. R. ____

A BILL

To establish a statutory right for one-third of either Chamber of Congress to compel timely, recorded votes on single-subject legislation; to require Members of Congress to disclose their determinations on whether measures deserve a vote; to prevent leadership obstruction; and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “People’s Right to a Vote Act.”

SECTION 2. PURPOSE.

The purposes of this Act are to—

1. prevent congressional leadership from burying legislation with substantial support;
2. require Members of Congress to take public positions on whether measures deserve floor consideration;
3. empower not fewer than one-third of either Chamber to compel a floor vote on qualifying measures;
4. guarantee a minimum thirty-day public consideration period preceding any such vote;
5. ensure orderly floor scheduling through an automatic two-measure limit and a transparent queue; and
6. reinforce transparency, accountability, and democratic responsiveness.

SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

1. “Chamber” means the House of Representatives or the Senate.
2. “Member” means a Representative or Senator.
3. “Measure” means a single-subject bill, a single-subject amendment, or a single line item in an appropriations or authorization bill.
4. “Pre-vote” means the mandatory determination under Section 6.
5. “Active measure” means a qualifying measure that is within the thirty-day consideration period or the subsequent voting window.
6. “Queue” means the ordered list of qualifying measures awaiting activation when the Chamber has reached the active-measure limit.

SECTION 4. EXCLUSIONS.

This Act does not apply to—

1. impeachment;
2. investigations preliminary to impeachment;
3. articles of impeachment or any procedural motion related thereto.

SECTION 5. INITIATION OF A MEASURE.

1. Sponsoring Group. A measure may be initiated only by a sponsoring group of not fewer than ten (10) Members of the Chamber in which the measure is introduced.
2. Initiation Limit. No Member may serve as an initiating sponsor for more than two (2) measures in any calendar year.
3. Submission. Upon submission of the measure to the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate, as applicable, the pre-vote procedures of Section 6 shall begin.

SECTION 6. PRE-VOTE PROCESS.

1. Mandatory Pre-Vote. A pre-vote shall be conducted for every measure initiated under Section 5.
2. Pre-Vote Window (Session-Day Requirement). The pre-vote window shall remain open for ten (10) session days. If the Chamber adjourns for recess or is not in session, the pre-vote clock shall pause and resume upon reconvening.
3. Member Participation. Each Member shall cast a determination of “yes,” “no,” or “abstain” on the question of whether the measure should proceed to a floor vote.
4. Certification. The Clerk or Secretary shall record each Member’s determination and certify completion of the pre-vote upon the close of the ten-day window.
5. Publication of Pre-Vote Results. Not later than ten (10) calendar days after the close of the pre-vote window, the Clerk or Secretary shall publish:
   1. the name of each Member;
   2. that Member’s determination (yes/no/abstain); and
   3. the total tallies.

   Publication shall not delay or affect commencement of the consideration period under Section 9.

6. Pre-Vote Not Binding. A Member’s pre-vote determination shall not bind that Member’s subsequent vote on final passage.

SECTION 7. QUALIFICATION THRESHOLD AND MEASURE LIMITS.

1. Qualification Threshold. A measure qualifies for floor consideration if not fewer than one-third (1/3) of the Members of the Chamber cast a “yes” determination in the pre-vote.
2. Six-Month Bar. No measure substantially addressing the same subject matter as a measure that has received a final floor vote under this Act may be initiated within six (6) months of that final vote.

SECTION 8. ACTIVE MEASURE LIMIT AND QUEUEING.

1. Two-Measure Limit. No Chamber may have more than two (2) active measures under this Act at any one time.
2. Queueing. Any qualifying measure beyond the two-measure limit shall be placed in the queue in the order in which it qualified.
3. Activation. A queued measure shall become active immediately upon the Chamber’s completion of the final floor vote required by this Act on a previously active measure.
4. No Withdrawal or Removal. Once a measure qualifies under Section 7, it may not be withdrawn, tabled, removed, or allowed to expire. Queueing shall not be construed as tabling or defeating a measure.

SECTION 9. THIRTY-DAY CONSIDERATION PERIOD.

1. Commencement. The thirty (30) session-day consideration period shall commence on the first session day immediately following the close of the ten-day pre-vote window.
2. Pausing. If the Chamber adjourns for recess or is not in session, the consideration clock shall pause and resume upon reconvening.
3. No Early Vote. No floor vote may be held during the thirty-day consideration period.

SECTION 10. FLOOR VOTE WINDOW (DAY 31–DAY 45).

1. Required Voting Window. The Chamber shall conduct a clean, recorded, up-or-down vote on the measure no earlier than the thirty-first (31st) session day and no later than the forty-fifth (45th) session day of the consideration period.
2. Pausing During Recess. If the Chamber adjourns during this window, the voting clock pauses and resumes upon reconvening.
3. No Delay or Acceleration Outside the Window. No rule, order, motion, or procedure may delay, suspend, or prevent the required vote, or accelerate it before the thirty-first (31st) session day.

SECTION 11. CLEAN VOTE REQUIREMENT.

1. Exact Text. The final floor vote shall be held on the exact text of the measure as initiated, except as provided in subsection (c).
2. No Unrelated Amendments. No unrelated amendment, substitute text, or omnibus modification may be considered.
3. Limited Germane Amendments.
   1. Definition. A germane amendment is limited strictly to corrections of:
      1. typographical, clerical, or formatting errors;
      2. numerical errors or incorrect cross-references;
      3. ambiguous wording requiring clarification without altering the substantive policy intent or scope;
      4. unintended drafting inconsistencies;
      5. factual drafting errors, including incorrect statutory citations or agency designations.
   2. Prohibited Changes. A germane amendment may not:
      1. introduce additional subject matter;
      2. expand or narrow scope;
      3. alter eligibility or regulatory authority;
      4. modify appropriations;
      5. change the purpose or policy intent of the measure.
   3. Approval by Initiating Sponsors. A germane amendment may be adopted only if not fewer than six (6) of the ten (10) initiating sponsors approve it.
   4. Exclusive Authority. Only the initiating sponsors may determine whether an amendment is germane under this subsection.
   5. Timing. Any germane amendment must be adopted no later than the twenty-fifth (25th) session day of the consideration period. No amendment may be considered during the thirty-first (31st) through forty-fifth (45th) session-day voting window.
   6. Publication. All adopted germane amendments shall be published within twenty-four (24) hours of approval.

SECTION 12. ACTION BY THE OTHER CHAMBER.

1. Transmission. If a measure passes one Chamber, it shall be transmitted to the other Chamber.
2. Application of Process. Upon transmission, the receiving Chamber shall apply Sections 5 through 11 in the same manner as the originating Chamber.

SECTION 13. TRANSPARENCY.

All pre-vote results, queue positions, activation dates, consideration periods, and roll-call votes under this Act shall be published within twenty-four (24) hours of availability.

SECTION 14. JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT.

1. Cause of Action. Any Member of a Chamber in which a violation of this Act is alleged may bring a civil action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to compel compliance.
2. Expedited Review. The court shall expedite such an action and issue a ruling within five (5) days.
3. Relief. The court may order any appropriate relief necessary to effectuate compliance with this Act, including the scheduling and holding of votes.

SECTION 15. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder shall not be affected.

Restoring the Voice of the 535 through the People’s Right to a Vote Act

I. The Problem: The Leadership Bottleneck

In the current congressional landscape, the greatest obstacle to legislation is not a lack of support, but a lack of opportunity. Under the informal “Hastert Rule” (the majority-of-the-majority rule) and the absolute scheduling power of the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader, a tiny fraction of the 535 elected members can prevent the entire body from even considering a bill.

When a handful of leaders—often just one or two people—decide which bills live and which bills die in committee "graveyards," the representative nature of our government is effectively suspended. This results in:

• Accountability Avoidance: Members can claim to support a policy to their constituents while knowing they will never have to actually cast a recorded vote on it.
• Crony Gatekeeping: Leadership can bury legislation that threatens special interests or powerful donors, even if that legislation has broad bipartisan support.
• Legislative Stagnation: Necessary bills for national security, infrastructure, and fiscal responsibility are held hostage for political leverage, often leading to “Omnibus” (multi-subject) spending bills that no one has time to read.

II. The Solution: A Statutory Right to a Vote

The People’s Right to a Vote Act fundamentally redefines the legislative process by creating a "release valve" for blocked legislation. It shifts the power from the Leadership to a Sizable Minority (1/3), ensuring that if 33% of a Chamber wants to go on the record, the leaders cannot stop them.

The Law in Brief

Initiation by Group (Section 5): A bill isn't just dropped in a hopper; it is backed by a sponsoring group of at least 10 members. This ensures the effort is serious and has immediate, documented support.

The Mandatory Pre-Vote (Section 6): This is the heart of the Act. For every initiated measure, every single member must go on the record with a “Yes,” “No,” or “Abstain” regarding whether the bill deserves a vote. This ends the “I’d vote for it if it came to the floor” excuse.

The 1/3 Threshold (Section 7): If one-third of the Chamber votes “Yes” in the pre-vote, the bill must proceed to the floor. It bypasses the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and the Rules Committee entirely.

The Clean Vote Mandate (Section 11): To prevent “poison pill” amendments designed to kill a bill’s chances, the Act requires a vote on the exact text as initiated. No unrelated additions are allowed.

Judicial Enforcement (Section 14): If leadership tries to ignore the law or “lose” the bill, any member can sue in federal court. The court is required to rule within 5 days to compel the vote.

III. Fixing the “Leadership vs. The People” Conflict

Currently, we have a system where 535 representatives are told what they can and cannot do by 2 or 3 people. The People’s Right to a Vote Act fixes this in three specific ways:

• It Forces Transparency: By requiring a public “Pre-Vote,” constituents can see exactly who is blocking progress. If a bill to secure the border or balance the budget is killed, you won’t just blame “The System”—you’ll have a list of names of the people who voted “No” on even giving it a chance.
• It Ends the “Majority of the Majority” Tyranny: Under the current Hastert Rule, if 217 members want a bill but 100 of them are in the majority party and their leader says “No,” the bill dies. This Act allows a coalition of members from across the aisle to force action regardless of what the Speaker wants.
• It Prevents Legislative “Burying”: By creating an automatic Queue (Section 8), the Act ensures that once a bill qualifies, it is on an unstoppable clock. It cannot be tabled, it cannot be withdrawn, and it cannot be “lost” in a committee drawer.

Summary of the Shift in Power

To the Editor,

Right now, Washington (WDC) is run by a small group of partisans who have turned our legislative process into a dead end. We elect 535 people to represent us, but the current system has devolved into a gatekeeping operation owned by cronies and partisans. A tiny group of leaders decides which bills live and which die in committee "graveyards," often to protect special interests or political donors. This isn't a Republic; it’s a controlled blockade.

I’ve designed the People’s Right to a Vote Act to break this stalemate. This is a structural necessity for a functioning government. My bill establishes a statutory right for just one-third of either Chamber of Congress (CONG) to compel a timely, recorded, up-or-down vote on any single-subject legislation.

It ends the era of accountability avoidance. Under this Act, every Member of Congress must participate in a public "Pre-Vote," recording whether they believe a measure deserves floor consideration. No more hiding behind "the system" or blaming leadership for why a bill never surfaced. If 33% of our representatives want to go on the record for a solution, the Speaker or Majority Leader shouldn't have the power to stop them.

The risk to our Republic from corruption and crony capitalism is simply too great to endure any longer. We need a government where our representatives are actually allowed to do the job we sent them to do: Vote. I invite every Montanan to review the full plan at Mikeformontana.com. It’s time to take the power away from the partisans and give it back to the people.

Sincerely,
Michael Hummert
Candidate for U.S. Senate

I. The Distinction: Being Right vs. Being Correct

Most people spend their lives trying to be Right. Being right is an emotional hit—a cognitive reward we receive when we find evidence to support a conclusion we have already reached. This reinforces an identity that is all too often based on only part of the truth, or simply what we want to believe.

I don’t want to be right. I want to be correct.

To be correct, you have to be willing to be wrong. You have to be fluid. My identity is not wrapped around any one factor so tightly that I refuse to let go when the facts slap me in the face. If empirical evidence proves that what I thought was true is actually incorrect, I will change. Believing is for religion; governing is for thinking.

II. The Reality of the Machine: A System Out of Step

Our government has not changed to keep pace with the world. History has shown us that it is difficult to believe in the integrity of our politicians when some of the most life-altering decisions made on behalf of our citizens have been founded on documented lies. For too long, the machine has operated as a shield for the powerful rather than a servant to the people.

III. The Reality of the Corporation: Accountability and Equity

My reality says that until we see adequate punishment for those who commit crimes against the people in the name of profit, the immoral actions of corporations will continue. We have seen unspeakable damage done to children and adults alike, yet we see no one punished for these crimes against humanity.

However, I also recognize a secondary reality: many corporations struggle with these challenges and succeed at protecting both the environment and their neighbors. We need our corporations. They are the engines of our power, and they should not be held hostage by unions. Reality is found in Equity—what is worked out fairly between the people and the corporation for the better good of the country.

IV. The Reality of the Citizen: A Question of Morality

My reality is that importing millions of people into our country does not benefit the American citizen. It may benefit corporations looking for cheap labor or political parties looking for future voters, but it does not protect the sovereignty of the individual living in Montana today. It is difficult to look at the reality of our migrant situation and try to square it with the morality of either our citizens or the immigrants themselves.

V. Stress-Testing the Truth

I wrestle with the same frustrations you do. Emotionally, I want to punish the people who have caused so many of these egregious problems in our government. I struggle with the desire to understand the motivation behind policies that seem difficult to view as anything other than nefarious.

But the Realist in me knows that we simply need to get these things fixed. It is not always necessary to understand why a problem was created by a law. It is enough to realize it must be changed and to learn from the mistakes—or the fraud—that the law permitted.

My goal is to create a reality for our country moving forward that protects us from future abuse. We must move past the white noise of emotion until all that remains is a solution that is Correct.

The Prosecution of Reality: The $39 Trillion Debt

The reality of our debt is not just "owing money." It is a fundamental shift in the American way of life. It has created a state of Fiscal Dominance, where the FED and the Treasury are no longer focused on the prosperity of the citizen, but on the desperate survival of the government's credit score.

1. The Reality of Fiscal Dominance

Fiscal dominance occurs when the national debt is so large that the central bank can no longer raise interest rates to fight inflation without accidentally bankrupting the government.

The Trap: If the FED raises rates to protect your savings and lower the cost of living, the interest payments on the $39 trillion spike to unsustainable levels.

The Result: The government must print more money just to pay the interest on the money it already borrowed.

The Reality: The government must refinance $9 trillion of maturing debt this year. This is fiscal dominance at work. The FED is lowering rates even though we have not reached the 2% inflation target. Furthermore, it is projected that $4 trillion to $4.5 trillion in tax relief and direct stimulation from the legislative spending of this past year will be injected into the economy. The FED cannot raise interest rates to combat this looming inflation because the debt has stripped them of their power.

2. The Reality of "Crowding Out" (The Corporate Impact)

For corporations and businesses, the debt creates a reality of Capital Scarcity.

When the government needs to borrow trillions of dollars every year, it sucks the available investment capital out of the private market.

The Reality: We are favoring the survival of a bloated government at the direct disadvantage of American industrial innovation. Instead of that money going toward a new factory in Montana or a technological breakthrough, it goes into buying government bonds to fund a stagnant bureaucracy.

3. The Historic Reality: How and Why?

If we look through the lens of history, this debt was a choice.

The Departure from Responsible Governance: For the first 150 years of our Republic, debt was something you only took on for an existential crisis and paid back immediately.

The "Magic Money" Myth: Politicians realized they could secure the "cognitive reward" of being "Right" by spending today and sending the bill to someone who hasn't been born yet.

The Lie: Both parties participated—one on social expansions and the other on unfunded foreign wars—knowing that as long as the machine kept printing, they never had to tell the voter the truth about the trade-offs.

The Reality: Our government is currently at a tipping point. Our politicians refuse to make the decisions necessary to save our Republic because of their lust for power and their fear of not being re-elected.

4. The Reality of the Destruction of Opportunity

For the individual citizen, the $39 trillion debt creates a structural wall between our children and the American Dream.

The Reality: We are destroying the ability of future generations to create opportunities for their own children. Our government is becoming a "pension plan with an army," where every tax dollar is spoken for by interest, Social Security, and Medicare before it even hits Washington (WDC).

5. The Loss of Sovereignty

As a structuralist, I see the most dangerous reality of all: The Loss of Sovereignty.

The Reality: The country with the largest military can be bullied by the entity or the country that owns the most of our debt. Your power is an illusion if it can be turned off by a foreign central bank deciding to stop buying your debt or selling what they already own into the system at an opportune time.

The Structural Reality

There are only three things that can be done at this point:

• Default: We fail to pay our debts. We will never do this as long as we can print money.
• Inflate: We devalue our currency to such a degree that our economy looks "huge" compared to our debt. This has been the goal of the last four administrations.
• Reform: Create a Balanced Budget Amendment, redefine our geopolitics, and realize we are no longer the sole hegemon. We live in a multipolar defense structure.

This third option is the reality I choose.

Conclusion of the Debt Audit

The $39 trillion is a mathematical fact that demands a structural repair, not an emotional reaction. We must move past the white noise of partisan bickering and admit that without fiscal safety, there is no national safety.

If we look at the last forty years, the evidence is clear: without a structural "hard stop" on spending, the government will always prioritize immediate emotional or political rewards over long-term national safety.

1. The Reality of the "Blank Check" (9/11 and the Global War on Terror)

History shows us that in moments of crisis, the government abandons fiscal logic for emotional theater.

The Historic Fact: After 9/11, the reality was a nation in pain. But the political response was a "blanket statement" of war against terrorism. Without the constraint of a balanced budget, politicians didn't have to ask, "How do we pay for this?"

The Result: We spent trillions on nation-building and kinetic warfare. This didn't just kill people; it destroyed infrastructure and drained the capital that was needed to maintain our own country.

The Reality Was: If a Balanced Budget Amendment had been in place, the debate would have shifted from "Whatever it takes" to "What can we actually afford to sustain?" Thousands of lives—and trillions of dollars—might have been preserved.

2. The Reality of Market Distortion (The 2008 Housing Crisis)

Government intervention in the economy often creates a False Reality.

The Intervention: The government incentivized irresponsible housing mortgages, pressuring the industry to loan money to people who did not qualify.

The Consequence: This wasn't just a "market failure"; it was a government-sponsored delusion. When the bubble burst, the government used its ability to print money to "bail out" the very entities that caused the problem.

The Reality Was: We advantaged the banks and the reckless lenders at the permanent disadvantage of the taxpayer and the stability of the currency.

3. The Reality of "Destructive Acts" (War and Infrastructure)

We often forget that war is the most expensive and least productive human endeavor.

The Fact: War is a destructive act. It consumes the "value input" of our people—their labor, their lives, and their tax dollars—and turns it into rubble and debt.

The Infrastructure Gap: While we were spending trillions to destroy and rebuild infrastructure in the Middle East, our own roads, bridges, and water systems in Montana and across the country were left to rot.

The Reality Became: Because there was no requirement to balance the budget, there was no honest examination of priorities. We acted like we could afford both "Guns and Butter" simultaneously. The $39 trillion debt is the physical proof that we couldn't.

4. What a Balanced Budget Amendment Actually Is

Since we cannot find quantitative evidence for a law that doesn't exist, we must define it by what it prevents. Based on the history of the Clinton–Gingrich era (the last time we lived in the reality of a surplus), we know that when the machine is forced to balance, prioritization happens.

The Theory of the Constraint: A Balanced Budget Amendment is not a "magic wand"; it is a Mechanical Limit.

It forces the "535 Gatekeepers" to state on the record: "To fund this war, we must cut this program," or "To save this program, we must raise this tax."

It ends the "Lies of Omission" where politicians promise everything and pay for nothing.

Conclusion: The Evidence of the Void

The reality isn't the Amendment; it's the Chaos of its Absence.

The $39 trillion is the evidence.

The devalued dollar is the evidence.

The decaying bridges are the evidence.

The Balanced Budget Amendment is simply the tool we use to return our government to the world's parameters—the reality that you cannot spend what you do not have without eventually losing your sovereignty.

The 17th Amendment was sold as a "democratic" reform to end backroom deals in state capitals. But the reality is that it removed the Internal Governor of the United States Government (USG). It destroyed the primary mechanism that kept the federal government from cannibalizing the sovereignty of the States.

1. The Reality of the "Lost Seat"

Before 1913, the United States Senate (SEN) was the "Chamber of the States." Senators were essentially ambassadors sent to Washington (WDC) to protect the interests and the treasuries of their home states.

The Historic Fact: The States are sovereign entities that created the federal government. By giving them a seat at the table through the Senate (SEN), the Founders ensured that the federal government could not pass laws that imposed unfunded mandates or overreached into state jurisdictions without the States' consent.

The Reality Became: After the 17th Amendment, the States lost their representation in the federal government. They became mere administrative districts. The Senate (SEN) stopped being a check on federal power and became a second "House of Representatives," where Senators prioritize national partisan platforms and special interest donors over the specific needs of their state governments.

2. The Reality of the Unfunded Mandate

Without a direct voice in Washington (WDC), the States became the "checkbook" for federal ambition.

The Mechanism: When Senators were accountable to state legislatures, they would never have voted for a federal law that forced their state to spend its own tax revenue to implement a federal program.

The Consequence: Because Senators now answer to a national partisan base and out-of-state donors, they regularly pass massive federal mandates—on education, healthcare, and environmental regulations—that the States are forced to fund.

The Reality Was: We transformed the States from Sovereign Partners into Subservient Subcontractors. The federal government now dictates policy to Montana, and Montana is forced to pay for it, with no structural way to say "No" at the federal level.

3. The Reality of the "Permanent Campaign"

The 17th Amendment shifted the focus of the Senate (SEN) from Deliberation to Electioneering.

The Fact: Because Senators must now win multi-million dollar statewide elections, they have become reliant on the "Gatekeeping Operation" of national parties and corporate cronies.

The Result: This created the reality of the Career Politician. Instead of a deliberative body focused on the long-term stability of the Union, the Senate (SEN) became a theater for partisan combat.

The Reality Became: Accountability was diluted. A Senator can ignore the needs of the Montana State Legislature as long as they can raise enough out-of-state money to run a 30-second ad campaign that appeals to emotional "Rightness" rather than factual "Correctness."

4. The Reality of Federal Expansion

The most quantitative evidence of the 17th Amendment’s impact is the explosive growth of the federal budget and the "Administrative State."

The Historic Reality: From 1789 to 1913, the federal government remained relatively small because the Senate (SEN) acted as a structural brake on spending. The States did not want a massive federal entity competing with them for tax dollars.

The Shift: Once the 17th Amendment removed that brake, the federal government was free to expand into every corner of American life.

The Reality Was: The 17th Amendment didn't just "democratize" the Senate; it unshackled the federal machine. It created the environment where the $39 trillion debt became possible, because there was no longer a body in Washington (WDC) whose job was to protect the solvency of the individual States.

Conclusion: The Erosion of the Republic

The reality of the 17th Amendment is that it turned a Federated Republic into a National Democracy with no internal safety valves. It traded the stable, deliberative protection of State Sovereignty for the volatile, emotional whims of national partisan politics.

The devalued role of the States, the rise of the unfunded mandate, and the unconstrained growth of federal power are not theories—they are the recorded history of the last 113 years.

When there is no requirement for rotation in office or a limit on age, the primary goal of the United States Government (USG) shifts from governing to self-preservation.

1. The Reality of the "Safe Seat"

The most quantitative evidence of our current state is the death of competitive elections.

The Historic Fact: In 2024, the incumbent re-election rate in Congress (CONG) reached 97%.

The Reality Is: We no longer have "elections" in the traditional sense; we have Coronations. The "Gatekeeping Operation" uses the power of the gavel and partisan gerrymandering to ensure that once a politician enters the machine, they almost never leave.

The Reality Became: Accountability was deleted. When a politician has a 97% chance of keeping their job regardless of the national debt or the migrant situation, they have no incentive to be "Correct"—only an incentive to be "Safe."

2. The Reality of the Generational Gap

Nature has a reality that the government tries to ignore: the human biological clock.

The Fact: The median age of the American citizen is approximately 38 years old. The median age of the United States Senate (SEN) is currently 64, with 20% of lawmakers over the age of 70.

The Reality Is: We are being governed by a generation that will not live to see the long-term consequences of the debt they are accruing or the laws they are passing.

The Reality Became: A disconnect in perspective. A 91-year-old legislator and a 30-year-old worker do not live in the same reality. When the leadership of a country is half a century older than the average citizen, the "machine" prioritizes the status quo of the past over the innovation of the future.

3. The Reality of Seniority as a Weapon

Because we lack term limits, power is not distributed by merit or the quality of an idea; it is distributed by Tenure.

The Mechanism: Committee chairs and leadership positions are almost exclusively awarded to those who have survived the longest in the machine.

The Consequence: This creates the "Career Politician" who spends 30 or 40 years in Washington (WDC). These individuals become the "Exclusive Authority" over our laws, our taxes, and our wars.

The Reality Was: We advantaged the Seniority System at the permanent disadvantage of Fresh Ideas and Legislative Fluidity. We have created a class of "Professional Politicians" who are more skilled at navigating the bureaucracy than they are at solving the problems of the people.

4. The Reality of "Legislative Stagnation"

History shows that the longer a person stays in a position of power, the more they resist change.

The Fact: As tenure increases, the production of landmark, structural legislation decreases. Career politicians become "risk-averse." They would rather manage a crisis than solve it, because solving it might alienate a donor or a partisan voting bloc.

The Reality Became: The "machine" is now a Closed Loop. It feeds itself, protects itself, and re-elects itself, while the actual infrastructure and solvency of the country decay in the background.

Conclusion: The Evidence of the Careerist

The reality of not having term or age limits is the $39 Trillion Debt and the Gatekeeping Operation we’ve already discussed.

The re-election rate is the evidence.

The aging leadership is the evidence.

The lack of structural change is the evidence.

Without these limits, the government remains a feudal system where the "Lords of the Gavel" hold power until they choose to let go, or until the machine finally breaks under the weight of its own stagnation.

When Congress (CONG) refuses to do its job, the "Fourth Branch" steps in. This is the reality of a government that has traded Laws for Mandates and Accountability for Regulation.

1. The Reality of the "Global Scare" and Outsourced Pollution

In the 1970s and 80s, we were told that industrial pollution was an existential threat. This "Global Scare" was used to justify massive regulatory hurdles for American manufacturing.

The Reality Was: Our government didn't eliminate the pollution; they simply pressured our corporations to move their factories to places like China and India.

The Result: We moved the mess where we didn't have to look at it, but we live on one planet. The pollution we "stopped" in Montana was simply spewed into the atmosphere in Asia, often by the very same corporations.

The Reality Is: By outsourcing our industry, the Fourth Branch allowed corporations to maximize profit without ever having to answer for the environmental damage they caused globally. We didn't save the planet; we just destroyed our own industrial base while the global air and water continued to decay.

2. The Reality of the Neurological "Tax" (Leaded Gasoline)

For decades, Congress allowed lead to be added to gasoline, despite knowing the risks. This wasn't a mistake; it was a choice that prioritized the oil and automotive industries over the human brain.

The Historic Fact: Leaded gasoline pumped millions of tons of neurotoxins into our atmosphere. Because lead doesn't degrade, it settled into our soil and our lungs.

The Reality Was: An entire generation of children suffered neurological decay, lowered IQs, and developmental damage because the "Gatekeepers" in Washington (WDC) protected corporate profits.

The Reality Is: While the lead is gone from the pumps, the damage is etched into the health of our citizens. The Fourth Branch allowed a corporation to profit from the "Value Input" of our children's cognitive health, and no one was ever held responsible for that theft of potential.

3. The Reality of the "Forever Chemical" Deception

Right now, "Forever Chemicals" (PFAS) are found in the blood of nearly every American. These chemicals were dumped into our water supplies by corporations that knew for years that they were toxic.

The Reality Was: The administrative state watched it happen. They allowed these substances to be used in everything from non-stick pans to firefighting foam with zero oversight.

The Reality Is: We are now being "protected" by the very agencies that failed to stop the poisoning in the first place. These chemicals are a permanent disadvantage to every citizen’s body, yet the corporations that profited from them continue to operate with the government’s blessing.

4. The Reality of Zero Accountability (Flint, Michigan)

The poisoning of Flint’s water is the quantitative evidence of the Fourth Branch’s true priority: Self-Preservation.

The Fact: An entire city was poisoned with lead. Children were permanently injured. People died.

The Reality Was: After years of "investigations" and "prosecutions," the reality as of early 2026 is that zero high-ranking public officials are in jail. The charges against the former Governor and his team were dismissed on procedural technicalities.

The Reality Is: In the Fourth Branch, "Expertise" is a get-out-of-jail-free card. If a corporation poisons you, they pay a fine. If the government poisons you, they settle a lawsuit with your own tax money. In neither case is there a "Punishment Level" that matches the crime.

5. The Reality of the "Security Theater" (TSA & DOD)

The administrative state thrives on making you feel safe while failing to make you safe.

The TSA: This agency has failure rates as high as 95% in undercover

The reality of our judicial system is that it is being used to bypass the people’s will. We are living in a country where "Nine People in Robes" are asked to decide the direction of our culture because 535 people in suits are too busy protecting their "Safe Seats" to write clear, constitutional laws.

1. The Reality of the "Legislative Shortcut"

In a functioning Republic, if a party wants to change a law on immigration, environmental standards, or social policy, they have to win a debate, build a coalition, and pass a bill.

The Historic Fact: For forty years, both the Democrat and Republican realities have used the courts to achieve what they couldn't achieve at the ballot box. They look for a friendly judge in a specific district to issue a nationwide injunction, effectively "legislating from the bench."

The Reality Was: This turns every Supreme Court (SCOTUS) nomination into a holy war. It’s no longer about finding the most "Correct" legal mind; it’s about finding a partisan warrior who will protect a specific "Belief" regardless of the text of the Constitution.

2. The Reality of the 50-Year Wedge Issue

The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision to return the abortion issue to the States exposed a multi-generational political deception.

The Strategy: For 50 years, the reality of abortion was maintained as a Wedge Issue. Both parties capitalized on this for half a century, using it as a primary tool for fundraising and voter mobilization. It allowed politicians to avoid the hard work of governing because they could always point to the Court as either the "villain" or the "savior."

The Reality Was: By using the Court as a shield, politicians avoided the Trade-off Examination required to build a national consensus. They didn't want the issue settled; they wanted the issue active because it kept their base angry and their coffers full.

The Current Reality: The Judiciary cannot "settle" a moral or cultural debate. When there is no federal law—only "precedent" built on a fragile 5–4 vote—the reality is a nation in a constant state of legal whiplash, where the law changes every time a seat on the bench is filled.

3. The Reality of "Qualified Immunity" and Corporate Shields

The courts have created "legal fictions" that protect the machine from the citizen, often because the legislature refuses to define the boundaries of accountability.

The Fact: Through judicial doctrines like Qualified Immunity, the courts have made it nearly impossible to hold the "Fourth Branch" or law enforcement (LE) accountable for egregious errors, even when those errors are "Incorrect" by every factual standard.

The Corporate Reality: The courts have allowed corporations to use "Mandatory Arbitration" and "Class Action Waivers" to ensure that the individual citizen can never face a corporation on equal ground.

The Reality Is: We have a two-tiered reality of justice. One for the entity that can afford a decade of litigation, and another for the citizen who is told to "accept a settlement" or "go away."

4. The Reality of "Administrative Deference"

For decades, the courts operated under a reality where they simply "deferred" to whatever an agency (like the EPA) said a law meant, rather than what the law actually said.

The Mechanism: If a law was "ambiguous," the court didn't look for the "Correct" meaning; they just asked the unelected bureaucrat for their opinion.

The Reality Was: This allowed the Fourth Branch to expand its power exponentially without ever having to pass a new law in Congress (CONG).

The Reality Is: Only recently has the Court begun to strike this down, forcing the "535 Gatekeepers" to actually do their jobs again. This has caused chaos in Washington (WDC) because the politicians have forgotten how to write specific, clear legislation that doesn't rely on a judge to "interpret" it into existence.

Conclusion: The Court is Not a Bypass

The reality of judicial integrity is that it is being eroded by the cowardice of the Legislative branch. We have turned our judges into "Super-Legislators," and in doing so, we have damaged the public’s trust in the law itself.

Our Current Reality is that we must force Congress (CONG) to be the "Exclusive Authority" on law-making again. We must stop using the courthouse as a shortcut to avoid the hard work of building a Republic.

The reality of our campaign finance system is that it has transformed the United States Government (USG) from a deliberative body into a $16 Billion Fundraising Machine.

1. The Reality of the "20% Governing, 80% Dialing" Ratio

For a modern legislator, the primary reality isn't writing laws; it is "call time."

The Historic Fact: The 2024 election cycle cost an estimated $16 Billion, making it the most expensive in history. Projections for the 2026 midterms already suggest over $11 Billion will be spent on advertising alone.

The Reality Was: To stay in power, a Representative or Senator must spend the majority of their time raising money rather than studying the National Debt or the Migrant Situation.

The Reality Is: Your representative is no longer a "statesman"; they are a high-level telemarketer for their party. They have been "duped" into a system where they must pay "party dues" to committee chairs to even get a seat at the table.

2. The Reality of the "Wedge Issue" Profit Center

As we discussed with Judicial Integrity, "Wedge Issues" like abortion, border security, and gun rights are not being solved because they are too profitable to leave active.

The Mechanism: Political consultants and the "Fourth Branch" of campaign staff have realized that Anger = Dollars. They intentionally construct "Wedge Issue" campaigns to divide the electorate and polarize the public.

The Reality Was: We advantaged the Political Consultant Class at the permanent disadvantage of National Consensus. If an issue like the "Migrant Situation" were actually fixed, the fundraising emails would stop.

The Reality Is: The "Machine" has a financial incentive to keep you angry and the problems unsolved. A solved problem is a closed checkbook.

3. The Reality of the "Corporate Shield" (Citizens United)

The 2010 Citizens United decision and its aftermath created a reality where "Dark Money" became the dominant force in American politics.

The Fact: In the 2024 cycle, just 100 billionaire donors poured a record $2.6 Billion into federal elections. This "outside spending" now accounts for nearly 20% of all political money.

The Reality Was: Corporations and special interests were granted "personhood" without the "accountability" of a human being. They can dump unlimited, untraceable funds into a race to destroy a candidate who might actually want to impose Corporate Accountability.

The Reality Is: This isn't "free speech"; it is Market Dominance. The individual citizen’s voice is drowned out by a tsunami of corporate spending that seeks to protect the status quo of the Administrative State.

4. The Reality of the "Coronation" (97% Incumbency)

The ultimate goal of campaign finance "laws" is to ensure that the "Machine" remains a closed loop.

The Statistic: Even with massive national dissatisfaction, the incumbency re-election rate remains near 97%.

The Reason: "Safe Seats" are protected by a war chest of millions. A challenger, no matter how "Correct" their ideas, cannot compete with the Gatekeeping Operation that controls the media buys and the donor lists.

The Reality Became: We have traded a Representative Republic for a Financial Oligarchy. If you don't have $20 million, you don't have a voice. This is the structural reason why the $39 Trillion Debt continues to grow: the people who benefit from the spending are the same ones who fund the re-elections.

Conclusion: The Evidence of the Checkbook

The reality of campaign finance is that it has deleted the "deliberative" part of our government.

The $16 Billion price tag is the evidence.

The perpetual anger of the "Wedge Issue" emails is the evidence.

The 97% re-election rate is the evidence.

We have a system where the "Value Input" of the American citizen—their vote—has been devalued by the "Value Input" of the corporate donor. Until we return to a reality where the "Social Contract" of the floor is protected from the "Contract" of the donor, the machine will continue to prioritize the checkbook over the Constitution.

The reality of our election system is that it has become a "Black Box." We are told to "trust the process," but the process has become so opaque that it has fractured the Social Contract of our Republic.

1. The Reality of the "Exponential" Spike

When I look at the total votes cast in Presidential elections over the last quarter-century, the numbers tell a story of steady growth followed by a statistical explosion in 2020.

• 2000: 105.6 Million
• 2004: 122.3 Million
• 2008: 131.4 Million
• 2012: 129.2 Million
• 2016: 136.6 Million
• 2020: 158.4 Million
• 2024: 156.3 Million

The Reality Was: Between 2016 and 2020, we saw an injection of nearly 22 million new votes into the system during a year when the country was locked down. While the population grew, it did not grow exponentially. This was the highest turnout since 1900, driven by emergency mail-in protocols that bypassed traditional safeguards.

The Current Reality: Despite 2024 being an election of immense historical weight, the total vote count actually dropped. This confirms that the 2020 numbers were an outlier that has never been fully reconciled with historical norms or properly accounted for.

2. The Reality of the Lawsuits: Standing vs. Merits

The narrative often pushed is that "60+ lawsuits were heard and found no fraud." As a person who looks at the factual skeletal structure of the law, I see a different reality.

The Fact: Of the lawsuits brought in 2020, the vast majority were dismissed on Standing—procedural grounds where the court refused to even look at the evidence because they claimed the plaintiff wasn't the "right person" to complain.

The Quantitative Reality: While approximately 30 cases were eventually heard on the merits, the majority of the "red flags" and anomalies brought forward by citizens were never litigated in an open court. They were silenced by Procedural Gatekeeping.

The Reality Is: When our courts use technicalities to avoid examining evidence, they protect the Machine but destroy the Public’s Trust.

3. The Reality of My Selective Ethics

I see a painful truth in how we handle these anomalies. I don't want to think that my fellow citizens are okay with cheating as long as it's "their side" doing the cheating.

I believe there is an ethical standard that needs to be reached, and it must be reached for everyone involved. When I selectively use my ethics—demanding transparency only when I lose and demanding silence when I win—I am participating in the deterioration of my country.

If there was cheating, we should know it, and we should fix it. I find it odd that instead of gathering together to ensure the system is sound, the Gatekeeping Operation tried to label the investigation of these red flags as "Dangerous."

The Conclusion: The Right to a Verifiable Vote

The reality is that without a verifiable vote, there is no safety. My loyalty and empathy always lie with my fellow citizens because we have a right to be here; it’s our country.

If we can verify a $100 wire transfer instantly, we have the technology to verify a vote. The fact that we don't suggests the Machine prefers the ambiguity.

I am not suggesting that anyone has been deceptive or committed a crime, but the appearance of a lie is just as detrimental as the lie itself. We need a system that is beyond reproach—utilizing contemporary technology to match every voter to a unique, encrypted code and a serialized paper ballot.

We must move past the "white noise" and return to a reality where the "Social Contract" of the ballot is Verifiable, Sound, and Secure.