U.S. Open Accountability Act of 2013
Section 1.Short Title. This Act may be cited as the “Open Accountability Act of 2013’. Sec. 2. Findings. Congress finds the following: (1) There is a growing distrust of the executive and legislative branches of the US Government. (2) Under Section 8 (Powers of Congress) “..shall have the power to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers,…in any Department or Officer thereof.” (3) The Presidential Oath of Office obligates the Office of the President of the United States to “..,preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (4) The majority of US Citizenry lack sufficient confidence in the process of federal governance carried out by the legislative and executive branches as defined in the Constitution. (5) The majority of US Citizenry do not believe the executive and legislative branches hold their best interests in executing the powers and responsibilities of their respective offices. (6) The majority of US Citizenry do not trust the actions of the legislative and executive branches who frequently meet in closed or non-public session with clear disregard to public interest. (7) The majority of US Citizenry require a greater degree of transparency and accountability by the executive and legislative branches in an open and free access environment that reveals the intent of their elected officers in real time. Sec. 3. The President of the United States shall respond live and orally to direct oral questions from all qualified members of the US Congress during a two hour, biweekly, live television and radio broadcast freely accessible to the United States public. (a) The President must make himself available for the biweekly meeting, without fail, unless a case of national emergency arises. i. The President will submit himself to questions orally presented, in person, by qualified Members of US Congress. The question may be asked in 2 minutes or less. ii. The President will respond to each question for, or less than, 4 minutes. iii. The President is not entitled to make an open or closing address and must only directly respond to direct oral questioning posed by qualified Members of US Congress. iv. After the initial response of the President the moderator will allow comment from qualified Members of US Congress for up to a period of 15 minutes on the original question. v. The President is not allowed to use any electronic media device, including teleprompter or hearing implement, to respond or debate questions. (b) The moderator must be not be an officer or elected official of any partisan held office. i. The moderator will not be a member of any for of news media producer or blog writer. ii. The moderator will function to call time on questions, responses or comments. iii. The moderator shall not add any comment to order keeping measures or take sides. (c) A qualified Member of Congress is one who does not currently exist in one of the following states: i. A leave of absence from his or her duties as an elected member of the US Congress. ii. Under investigation for ethics violations or violating the Congressional Code of Conduct, if it exists. iii. Is not physically present at the question and answer session. No absentee question is permitted.
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