Background
The State of the U.S. Constitution
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times. The most recent amendment — the 27th, concerning Congressional pay — was ratified in 1992, more than three decades ago.
A Constitutional Convention, authorized under Article V, allows states to propose and ratify new amendments — bypassing Congress entirely if needed.
27
Existing Constitutional Amendments
1992
Year the Last Amendment Was Ratified
43
U.S. States with ELECTED Attorneys General
The Problem Amen28 Solves
Who Guards Justice?
An Attorney General is a chief legal officer. In 43 U.S. states, the Attorney General is directly elected by the people, creating accountability. A handful of states appoint theirs.
At the federal level, however, the U.S. Attorney General is appointed by the President — the very executive the AG may need to investigate or hold accountable. This structural conflict is the problem Amen28 is designed to fix.
 Lady Justice | About Lady Justice:
- The Blindfold: Shows that justice is fair and blind. It means the law treats everyone the same, no matter who they are or how much money they have.
- The Scales: Show how evidence is weighed. They mean a case must be looked at carefully and fairly by checking both sides.
- The Sword: Shows the power of the law. It means the system can punish wrongdoers and protect the innocent.
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The Proposal
The Upgrade Justice Amendment (Amen28)
Amendment 28 creates a new elected federal office: the Chief Justice of the USA (CJUSA). This position moves every aspect of Justice, Ethics, and Auditing out from under the President and into an independently elected authority.
Jurisdiction of the Chief Justice of the USA
The CJUSA shall have jurisdiction and management over:
- Federal Attorney General
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Inspector Generals — the federal government's anti-corruption watchdogs
- Congressional Ethics Office
- Military Inspector Generals and Judge Advocate Generals (JAG)
- U.S. Marshals Service
Additional Powers
- U.S. Marshals shall hold rank and authority greater than that of the Secret Service, ensuring independent law enforcement capacity.
- The CJUSA shall create and oversee a Plebiscite Voting System (PVS) — the voice of the people — via secure mail-in and/or Internet-based voting. Use of the PVS to be determined by Congress or a separate amendment.
- Truth-reporting agencies such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics shall report to the CJUSA, not the executive branch.
- The CJUSA shall oversee independent auditing of the military, the Federal Reserve, and other federal agencies.
- The CJUSA can pause or cancel a Presidential Emergency Action. See PEAD. Also see NEA.
The Office
About the Chief Justice of the USA
🗳️
Elected, 4-Year Term
The CJUSA is elected by the American people on a four-year cycle — offset by two years from the presidential election (midterms) to ensure independence.
💰
Presidential Salary
The Chief Justice receives a salary equal to that of the President of the United States, and receives Secret Service protection.
⚖️
Subject to Impeachment
The CJUSA can be impeached and convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors through a process similar to that used for the President.
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First Appointment by States
The ELECTED Attorneys Generals of the States shall appoint the inaugural CJUSA by simple majority vote, and fill any vacancies the same way.
Note on Supreme Court relationship: Amen28 will require additional detail before ratification, including clarification of the Chief Justice of the USA's relationship to the existing Supreme Court Justices.
What Comes Next
Amen28+ and the Constitutional Convention
Additional amendments — referred to as Amen28+ — should be pursued as part of the same Constitutional Convention. The 28th Amendment is a foundation, not a ceiling.
In a single day, 38 State Legislatures of the United States could agree and pass a 28th Amendment.
When the 28th Amendment passes, let it be called:
"UPGRADE JUSTICE DAY" |
Please be a champion and let your state legislatures know how you feel about Justice!
Resources & Tools
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