A Citizen's Demand  ·  Congressional Reform  ·  Five Proposals
Five Laws

What Congress Must Pass on Themselves

They make the rules. It's time they follow them. Five straightforward reforms to restore accountability, transparency, and integrity in Congress.

Contents

  1. I.Term Limits & Age Limits
  2. II.Balanced Budget Accountability
  3. III.Ban on Congressional Insider Trading
  4. IV.No Pay During Government Shutdowns
  5. V.Single-Issue Legislation Requirement
I
Term & Age Limits

Term Limits and Age Limits for Members of Congress

To ensure a healthy balance between experience and fresh perspective, Congress should implement both term limits and reasonable age caps for all members.

  • House of Representatives: maximum of 6 terms (12 years)
  • Senate: maximum of 2 terms (12 years)
  • Upper age limit of 65 at time of swearing in
Why It Matters

Long-term incumbency often leads to entrenched power, reduced accountability, and diminished responsiveness to constituents. Term limits would encourage new leadership, reduce career-politician incentives, and bring Congress closer in line with the evolving needs of the public.

II
Fiscal Responsibility

Balanced Budget Accountability Requirement

Congress should be required to maintain a federal budget within a defined fiscal boundary — no more than a 3% deficit relative to GDP — except in times of formally declared national emergency.

  • 3% deficit-to-GDP cap as a hard fiscal ceiling
  • Sitting members ineligible for reelection if threshold is exceeded without justification
  • Exceptions only for formally declared national emergencies
Why It Matters

Chronic deficit spending undermines long-term economic stability and shifts financial burdens onto future generations. This proposal creates direct accountability, tying fiscal responsibility to political consequences.

III
Financial Integrity

Comprehensive Ban on Congressional Insider Trading

Members of Congress and their immediate families should be prohibited from trading individual stocks while in office. Only diversified instruments such as mutual funds or index funds would be permitted.

This expands and strengthens the existing STOCK Act, widely criticized for weak enforcement.

  • Full ban on individual stock trading for members and immediate family
  • Significant financial fines for violations
  • Criminal charges where applicable
  • Immediate removal from office for violations
Why It Matters

Lawmakers have access to sensitive, market-moving information. Even the perception of financial self-dealing erodes public trust. A strict ban eliminates conflicts of interest and reinforces the principle that public office is for public service — not personal financial gain.

IV
Accountability

No Pay and Mandatory Session During Government Shutdowns

In the event of a federal government shutdown, all members of Congress would face immediate and tangible personal consequences — building on the No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 with far stronger enforcement.

  • Forfeit all salaries for the duration of the shutdown
  • Required to remain in session in Washington, D.C. until resolved
  • Prohibited from recesses, travel, or unrelated legislative work
Why It Matters

Government shutdowns disrupt essential services, harm federal workers, and damage the economy. Directly tying personal consequences to legislative gridlock incentivizes timely compromise and ensures lawmakers share the urgency felt by those they represent.

V
Transparency

Single-Issue Legislation Requirement

All bills introduced in Congress should be limited to a single, clearly defined subject — ending the practice of bundling unrelated provisions into massive, multi-thousand-page bills that few lawmakers have time to read.

  • Each bill must address only one primary issue
  • Written in clear, accessible language
  • Subject to separate, individual debate and vote
Why It Matters

Omnibus bills and legislative "riders" obscure transparency and reduce accountability. A single-issue requirement promotes clarity, informed decision-making, and greater public understanding of the legislative process.