S. 55: Read the Bills Act

This bill, titled the Read the Bills Act, aims to enhance the transparency and accountability of the legislative process in the United States Congress. The key provisions of the bill are as follows:

Constitutional Authority

The bill asserts that each House of Congress has specific powers granted by the U.S. Constitution, such as maintaining rules of proceedings and ensuring that laws are duly passed. It establishes that anyone who feels they have been wronged by a law enacted in violation of these rules can bring a lawsuit in court.

Findings

The bill outlines several findings, including:

• Legislative powers are vested solely in Congress.
• Members of Congress are accountable to their constituents and must ensure that the legislative process is transparent.
• Current practices may lead to the passage of lengthy and complex bills that lack sufficient public scrutiny, making it difficult for citizens to understand the laws being enacted.

Requirements for Bills

The bill introduces specific requirements for any bill or resolution presented in Congress:

• Citation of Constitutional Authority: Each bill must specify the constitutional powers that justify its enactment.
• Current Law Presentation: Any bill that amends existing laws must include the full text of the current law, the proposed amendments, and how the law would read post-amendment.
• Official Reading and Publication: The full text of a bill must be published at least seven days prior to a vote, and there must be a full reading of the bill in the respective House before it can be voted on.

Voting Procedures

The bill also specifies that:

• No vote on a bill can occur without the full text being read aloud to all members present in the legislative body.
• Members of Congress must sign an affidavit confirming they were present during the full reading or that they have read the bill themselves before voting.
• The records of these affidavits must be maintained.

Enforcement Clause

Any law passed that does not comply with the stipulations laid out in this bill would be rendered ineffective. This means that if a bill is enacted without following the outlined procedures, it cannot be enforced or upheld legally.

Severability Clause

The bill includes a severability clause, meaning that if any part of the bill is found to be invalid by a court, the remaining provisions will still be in effect.

Consequences for Non-compliance

Individuals or Members of Congress can seek legal action against any law that does not adhere to the prescribed requirements, which affirm their ability to challenge such laws in court.

Relevant Companies

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