Overview -

America can meet its national goals of government accountability and responsibility, without disrupting existing institutions of government, voluntarily and constitutionally, as set forth and intended by our founders, with these simple changes:

 Statement:  We govern ourselves voluntarily by contract. Powers not granted are retained, as is the right to exercise reserved power. We are afforded the right to create new voluntary social contracts, as long as these new contracts conform to the framework established by the founders. Individual candidates voluntarily seek election to one specific public office with defined powers. These powers and processes function at all levels of American government. 

 Question:  Given the parameters above, is it possible to create new voluntary social contracts between citizens and candidates seeking election to public office at all levels of government?  If we do create these new voluntary contracts, what structure is needed to ensure compliance within the framework established by our Founders?  What are the benefits and outcomes generated by these new contracts? More importantly, is it politically feasible to add new voluntary social contracts to our existing government processes?

 Answer:  This paper presents the structural framework that meets the above criteria and offers answers to the remaining questions with a resounding “yes.” The outcome moves us closer to the political accountability that the founders intended when we moved from sovereign nation states to a federal system of government. An alpha test of this concept in a Congressional race in 1989 showed promise. A beta test, in 1994 Republican Contract with America, successfully demonstrated the political feasibility of combining voluntary social contracts with the election process (although the Contract was actually a promise – This issue is addressed the paper).

 The American voting public has some basic understanding of contracts. Most Americans buy their cars by signing a contract with a promise to pay. If they fail to pay, they lose their car. I present the benefits of this same basic principle as it applies to liberal democratic government. The Founders gave us Democracy 101. This paper proposes Democracy 101a, where the “a” stands for accountability.