The Constitution - Government powers and limits
I believe that the most important change the people of this Nation can benefit from, is a formal documented Constitution. Moreover, a Constitution that revolutionises the rights, powers and methodology of the political parties, Parliament and public bodies. The Constitution will stipulate the operational limits of Government and the claims of politicians running for office.
Government fiscal information and tax issues - revenues and expenditure - must be clearly and succinctly stored and presented (for where individual revenues are raised and how and where each specific fund is spent). Information should be mandated to be simplified and accessible (on-line) on a daily basis. Complications and obtuse practices will be stopped. These favour only the wealthy, clever and professionals and are totally self-serving and do not benefit the raising of revenue nor the Nation and its people. This is a pre-curser to the requirement that revenue raising should be reformed.
Taxes are to be kept clear, uncontroversial, fair and simple. Stealth taxes will be illegal. All tax revenues are most fairly raised via income tax. Any other tax raising method is more iniquitous. The only permanent exception should be VAT - otherwise any tax raised by other means or targeting, should have a maximum life of 2 years and the revenue should only be expended on the issue defined by the tax name and collection point. This tax should then be moved into income tax or VAT. This includes fuel tax, alcohol and tobacco tax! Prohibition - is not the duty of tax, but licensing.
With this financial information available, all politicians are required to only make claims based upon firm fiscal information. Campaigns must now be explicit 'contracts' with the electorate. Certain pre-set items must be defined prior to elections. Namely any issue that a Government may wish to set - tax levels, interest rates, expenditure levels on each Government department. Any election claims, are now political or social contracts, and will be used to limit future actions of the individual(s), party or Government. Citizens will be allowed to sue or prohibit any breaks in promises.
The power and freedom of Governments in office will also be limited. All taxes and expenditure are only permitted to increase by the rate of inflation. To avoid possible abuse, the inflation rate of similar commercial trading blocks should be considered (EU, USA). Increases beyond this will only possible when declared explicitly in an election campaign or via a referendum. Emergency taxes are allowed for up to 2 years. New emergency taxes are not to avoid Constitutional requirements to commit to income and expenditure levels. These are only for unforeseen issues - war, environment and other serious matters. Again, revenue raised can only be expended on the emergency for a maximum of 2 years. All other decisions and actions must require either new elections or a relevant referendum.
The heirarchy of the Nation will be a President - elected in a separate general election. The President will have the authority to sign new Acts of Parliament. The President can promote their own agenda as defined under their election programme. The President will serve a term of 6 years. The governing parliamentary party and Prime Minister will be elected in a separate general election. The maximum term of each Parliament will be 5 years. Election of Party Leaders can only take place in a general election.
