The Florida State Guard is authorized by Congress [32 U.S. Code Sec. 109 (c)], and the 2nd amendment of the US Constitution to operate independently of the federal government, being subject only to the Governor of Florida, and cannot be drafted into the federal military. In order for Florida to be free and independent, the Florida State Guard must be expanded to meet the needs of Floridians without relying on protection from the federal government.

Under current Florida law, Sheriffs effectively function as officers of the State, rather than as officers of the Counties they exercise authority within. Fielding and investigation of complaints against Florida sheriffs is not allowed to be done by any independent authority and so Floridians have no recourse if/when Florida Sheriffs act inappropriately, County Commissioners have limited control over the Sheriffs budget, and elections are not working as effective accountability mechanisms because of systemic factors. To correct this, the Florida Constitution should be amended in this way:

Whereas the Sheriffs of Florida are de facto officers of the State rather than officers of the County, and such Sheriffs have few and ineffective checks on their behavior and policy, and elections have proven to be ineffective checks on the abuse of the Sheriff's authority as a result of the power of incumbency and the nature of running a political campaign for Sheriff against an incumbent who is likely the boss of the challenger, be it resolved, that the Florida House of Representatives/Florida Senate proposes that the State of Florida adopt a Constitutional amendment that grants appointive authority to the Boards of County Commissioners and plenary budgetary authority over their Sheriff's departments using such language exemplified below:

Florida Constitution ARTICLE VIII Sec. I(D):

COUNTY OFFICERS. There shall be elected by the electors of each county, for terms of four years, a tax collector, a property appraiser, a supervisor of elections, and a clerk of the circuit court.

There shall also be a Sheriff appointed by each Board of County Commissioners, who shall serve at the pleasure of the same, and such Board shall have plenary budgetary authority over the Sheriff's department. Unless otherwise provided by special law approved by vote of the electors or pursuant to Article V, section 16, the clerk of the circuit court shall be ex officio clerk of the board of county commissioners, auditor, recorder and custodian of all county funds. Notwithstanding subsection 6(e) of this article, a county charter may not abolish the office of a tax collector, a property appraiser, a supervisor of elections, or a clerk of the circuit court; transfer the duties of those officers to another officer or office; change the length of the four- year term of office; or establish any manner of selection other than by election by the electors of the county.

Current Florida law states that it is a misdemeanor to "exhibit" a firearm in a way that is "rude, careless, angry". Overzealous prosecutors and judges can use this overly broad statutory language to unjustly persecute Floridians for exercising their rights. The statute should be
amended in this way:

F.S. 790.10: Improper exhibition of dangerous weapons or firearms.—If any person having or carrying any dirk, sword, sword cane, firearm, electric weapon or device, or other weapon shall, in the presence of one or more persons, exhibit the same in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, the person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

The sanctions against Cuba that have been in place for decades have not furthered American foreign policy interests and have caused significant suffering, not only for Cubans, but also for Americans and other surrounding Nations and aid organizations who are being shouldered with the responsibility of caring for Cuban refugees.

Congressman Robert Torricelli, sponsor of the "Cuban Democracy Act of 1992", which tightened the sanctions regime against Cuba, said that the bill would "wreak havoc on that island."

In a secret internal memo written by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Lester D. Mallory on April 6, 1960, he wrote about the Cuban government and a US embargo: "The only foreseeable means of alienating internal support [of the Cuban government] is through disenchantment and disaffection based on economic dissatisfaction and hardship. [...] [I]t follows that every possible means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cuba. If such a policy is adopted, it should be the result of a positive decision which would call forth a line of action which, while as adroit and inconspicuous as possible, makes the greatest inroads in denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation, and overthrow of government."

The decrease in monetary and real wages, as well as hunger and desperation have been accomplished, but more than 60 years later, the Cuban government remains. Directors of US foreign policy do not know how to engage in mutual conversation and diplomacy, they can only throw temper tantrums and sanctions when they don't get their way. The embargo against Cuba should be lifted.

The threat of packing the Court, and potentially skewing it one way or another for decades based on the chance death or resignation of Justices are absurdities that can be corrected, while still preserving the integrity of the Court.

A new American Constitution should adopt this language:

The Supreme Court shall be constituted in such a manner as Congress may by law require from among the judges of the inferior courts and State Supreme Courts; provided, however, that assignments for terms of equal length not exceeding two years shall be made randomly from among appellate courts, or courts of first instance, or State Supreme Courts, or a mixture thereof.

The Framers believed that it was appropriate to give Congress authority to establish post offices and post routes. The USPS has allowed Americans to communicate with each other largely censorship free for centuries, since the post office is bound by the 1st amendment, but in today's time, the post office and its function; namely, as a crucial aspect of the country's circulatory system, has been mostly superseded by the development of social media technology. The Constitution should be updated to more accurately reflect the Framers' intentions and adapt to the technology of our time.

A new American Constitution should adopt this language:

The Congress shall have power-

To establish post offices and post routes, as well as social media

Omnibus bills prevent Congress from responsibly and knowledgeably voting on legislation, in some cases even preventing them from reading the bill before voting.

A new American Constitution should adopt this language:

Every law, or resolution having the force of law, shall relate to but one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.