Could a citizens' panel help Congress keep its constitutional oath? Sam Bushman and Sheriff Richard Mack welcome Sunny Reid Jr. to explore his proposal for randomly selected citizens to review bills before lawmakers vote.
The conversation examines jury-style selection, constitutional education, shorter single-subject bills, and a proposed two-thirds voting requirement for legislation flagged by the panel. They also debate the practical hurdles, including congressional rule changes, constitutional amendments, and partisan resistance.
The episode opens with reflections on Jimmy Stewart, Veterans Day, and family military service before turning to citizen oversight and accountability.
Linked Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Liberty Round Table
00:21 What would make Congress’s constitutional oath matter?
01:04 Jimmy Stewart, military service, and the movie Jimmy
03:11 Sheriff Mack honors his family’s World War II service
07:49 Meet Sunny Reid Jr. and hear his background
11:30 How a jury-style citizens review panel could work
13:36 The proposal for single-subject bills under 50 pages
15:39 Congressional rule changes or a constitutional amendment?
17:15 Selecting panel members by lottery and limiting their terms
17:55 Constitutional education and balanced expert testimony
21:32 Drafting a proposal and finding congressional sponsors
22:59 Why citizens must understand the Constitution
Call to Action
Should citizens review bills before Congress votes? Tell us whether you think this proposal could work and what safeguards you would want. Subscribe to Liberty Round Table and watch the next segment as Sam Bushman, Sheriff Richard Mack, and Sunny Reid Jr. discuss how to put the idea into practice.