On Liberty Roundtable, Sam Bushman and Sheriff Richard Mack welcome Clifford “Sonny” Reed to explore a proposal for a citizen-led constitutional review panel. Inspired by the jury system, the panel would examine proposed legislation and ask one essential question: Where does the Constitution give Congress the authority to do this?
The discussion covers shorter, single-subject bills, selecting and educating citizen reviewers, and the challenges of getting Congress to participate. Sam also outlines a practical starting point: review one bill, publish the findings, invite the sponsor to respond, and use the results to build support for a pilot program.
Could this idea strengthen congressional accountability? What safeguards would keep the panel informed, independent, and transparent?
The episode also includes Veterans Day reflections, a discussion of Jimmy Stewart’s military service, and the importance of supporting meaningful entertainment.
Learn more about the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and its Sheriff’s Citizens Posse: https://cspoa.org
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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction: Making the congressional oath matter
01:03 Jimmy Stewart, military service, and Veterans Day reflections
06:47 Meet Sonny Reed and his citizen-review proposal
11:19 How a constitutional review panel could work
13:24 Shorter bills, single subjects, and congressional rule changes
16:45 Choosing and educating citizen reviewers
20:37 Civic responsibility and political obstacles
26:55 The Citizens Constitutional Committee charter
31:23 Start with one bill and one citizens panel
35:59 Proving the concept locally or nationally
37:19 Naming the initiative and keeping it nonpartisan
40:11 Defining the scope, budget, and resources
44:29 Standard review questions and following who benefits
46:45 Final thoughts and how to get involved
Call to Action
Should citizens review bills before Congress votes? Tell us what you think in the comments, including what safeguards you would want in place. Subscribe for more Liberty Roundtable discussions, share this episode with someone who cares about government accountability, and visit https://cspoa.org to learn about the Sheriff’s Citizens Posse.