Heritage Foundation Special Report

Blueprint for Reorganization: An Analysis of Federal Departments and Agencies

Edited by David B. Muhlhausen, PhD

The inertia involved in moving and changing the thinking of citizens and government officials is considerable. Citizens and some officials realize that the federal government is out-of-control and overreaches into the business of States and Citizens daily.

If one studies the history of the Revolution, the Federalist Papers, and the process of developing the Constitution, one would comprehend the goals of the Founders. Most of the existing federal government is unConstitutional. Every historical 'emergency', war, or 'police action' has caused some new department or agency to be created in some nebulous attempt to prevent a similar disaster in the future or to correct a managerial problem within government.

The federal government interferes and infringes every facet of American life. The federal government is all powerful, forcing their creators—the States—and citizens, and the world to "Walk this way, talk this way". OBVIOUSLY, this is not the Liberty and Freedom desired by the Founders. The current federal government is just another form of dictatorship instead of a federalist system of governance where power is shared equally among a limited federal government and States.

This government evolution began during an economic disaster, the Depression, caused by the Federal Reserve (another agency created in 1913 along with IRS). Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) was elected in 1932 and proceeded to create the "alphabet soup" of departments and agencies comprising the federal government. Of these entities, some were abolsihed, some were renamed, and many more new departments and agencies have popped up since FDR. While FDR led America through WW2 with adept political, social and psychological action, his massive expansion of the federal government is the major cause of today's overreach.

Anyone who believes this country is free is an idiot!

RESTORE AMERICA! CUT GOVERNMENT 50%!

See the block below subtitled CONVENTION of STATES

"The politicians only want power so they can 'serve' you."

"Extortion and thuggery are good things when they're called law!"

Larken Rose

Heritage Bluepirnt

The list of Departments and Agencies below only touches the surface of the Federal Government, the monstrosity. A much larger list of Agencies is here. Estimates (they really don't know) of how many Agencies comprise the Executive Branch of the federal government range from 60 to 400. The exact number is unknown.

Many of these agencies are independent of the President's power, and only the CONgress can change a given agency's purpose. The CONgress oversees the agencies, but the agencies' decisions, actions, and all-powerful independence are exempt from judical review.

  1. Cover Page
  2. Introduction
  3. Suggested Elininations of Agencies and Programs within some Departments

  4. Department of Agriculture
  5. Department of Commerce
  6. Department of Defense
  7. Department of Education
  8. Department of Energy
  9. Department of Health and Human Services
  10. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  11. Department of Homeland Security
  12. Department of Interior
  13. Department of Justice
  14. Department of Labor
  15. Department of State
  16. Department of Transportation
  17. Department of Treasury
  18. Department of Veteran Affairs
  19. Suggested Reorganizations and/or Program Elininations in some Agencies

  20. Environmental Protection Agency
  21. Federal Communications Commission
  22. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  23. Federal Housing Finance Agency
  24. Office of Personnel Management
  25. Office of Management and Budget
  26. Small Business Administration
  27. Securities and Exchange Commission
  28. Social Security Administration
  29. Eliminations of Agencies

  30. Eliminate Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  31. Eliminate Corporation for Public Broadcasting
  32. Eliminate Export-Import Bank
  33. Eliminate U.S. Trade and Development Agency
  34. Eliminate Corporation for National and Community Service
  35. Eliminate National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities
  36. Contributors

Joseph Story, Supreme Court Justice
... when the court wasn't part of the L-E-J Cabal

Joseph Story (1779�1845) was born during the American Revolution, and came of age in the early years of the new United States of America. He was a scholar of the U.S. Constitution, and, eventually helped found the Harvard Law School.

In 1811, Story was appointed to the Supreme Court by President James Madison � who knew a few things about the U.S. Constitution, in that he helped write it. Story was a contemporary of another famous member of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Marshall (1755�1835).

In 1833, Justice Story published a study titled, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States. In a discussion of the Second Amendment, Story stated:

"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."

See the following links for more related articles:

[Editor's Note: what I have dubbed the "Legislative-Executive-Judicial Cabal" which the American People have caused by ignoring the generational transition from our Constitutional Republic to what now is, in effect, an "elected" dictatorship. Never mind who is elected. Never mind which bogus party is in power. The superficial, theatrically staged, choreographed appearance of debate, disagreement, and stalled legislation always resolves into more government and less FREEDOM. We the People still lose more freedom after every "emergency" or unnoticeably when CON-gress passes another general, open-ended law that enables the Executive (dictator) and its unaccountable agencies to formulate more freedom-restricting regulations (200 pages a day get posted to the Federal Register). The "Dictator's" agencies (police force) continue to pile-up more weapons to squelch uprising(s) when the People finally realize and understand their tyrannical government.

A Convention of States is necessary to amend the Constitution for Congressional Term Limits to twelve (12) years and restrict time in DC to only six (6) months per year. Such an Amendment is only a FIRST step in restoring America to its Constitutional roots. Back in the day when the People still feared kings, the president's term was limited by Constitutional Amendment.

Currently, CONgress is just a group of socialists, progressives, and faux-conservatives (career politicians) that, on a daily basis, ignores the Constitution, many of their own past statutes, and cedes their responsibilities to the president ("elected" dictator). A comparison to the history of Rome becomes more and more credible with the Executive and its "featherbedded" lackeys gaining more power while CONgress sits back all fat-dumb-and-happy.

CONgress has made recent efforts to expose State Dept. failures in Benghazi (inept political leader), Fast-and-Furious gun-running (criminal AG), IRS 1st amendment violations, gov't union Veterans Administration fraud, and whining about Obama(Reid)-killer-Care, but these efforts are mostly politics as usual. Most "citizens" will forget about these infringements from our unaccountable, uncontrollable Executive branch with its tyrannical agencies staffed by socialist unions that extort "juicy" contracts from the "elected" dictatorship.

Most positions in the federal government whether elected, appointed, or hired are nominal, make-work jobs (confidentially) designed merely to grow government, bilk money from private businesses and citizens, and eventually fully transform America into a totalitarian state. When this happens, CONgress will have destroyed the economy and the country by their negligence and counter-liberty policies, and it will be almost impossible to Restore America. The 'Restore America' list is only a beginning too.]

"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."

James Madison, Federalist Paper 47, Friday, February 1, 1788

Anyone who believes this country is free is an idiot!

RESTORE AMERICA! CUT GOVERNMENT 50%!

"Extortion and thuggery are good things when they're called law!"

Larken Rose

[Editor's Note: a Constitutional Convention is required to reverse the damage to freedom and liberty since 1900. This Article V was ratified by the participants at America's founding Constitutional Convention as an alternate path for repairing damage to freedom and liberty, a path for the People to restore damage caused by our failed representatives in the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of a government designed to represent the wishes of We the People.

The States must "demand" a Convention and explicitly specify an agenda of:

  1. laws to be repealed or modified,
  2. Amendments to existing constitutional clauses that define the co-equal branches to further specify and define, and
  3. new Amendments or statutes to be eventually ratified by States.

These Amendments should further specify and clarify the powers of the Legislature and Executive Branches. A good example is the definition of a "Bill". A Bill should contain ONLY verbiage in regards to the topic of the future law. NO earmarks and NO unrelated sections or attacments.

Many past Bills sent to a president for signature contained unrelated but essential funding sections that rendered the Bill veto-proof when it warranted a veto. CON-gress can override a veto if the Bill is deemed absolutely necessary by CON-gress. If the Bill requires SPECIFICALLY related amendments, the CON-gress can "debate" (with its usual theater) and vote any new amendments.

The original text of the Constitution contains some very GENERAL clauses enabling both CON-gress and Executive branches to write laws and regulations with their particular nuances expanding powers beyond intent. "Intent" may be gleaned from a complete understanding of Federalist Papers. An example of further specification and clarity for CON-gress should be a clear, very specific definition of the boundaries for the interstate Commerce Clause.

To restore freedom, liberty, and individuality - minimally these must be repealed:

  1. the 16th Amendment,
  2. the Federal Reserve Act,
  3. the War Powers Act,
  4. all Asset Forfeiture laws,
  5. the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
  6. the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act
  7. NDAA
  8. Homeland Security which includes TSA
  9. the Dodd�Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
  10. most Eminent Domain laws, and
  11. the Affordable Care Act

Currently, even with computer-searching systems, the list of antiquated and/or obsolete statutes (and related regulations) is unwieldy. These statutes must be invalidated unless there remains an applicable reason for retaining the law(s).

Aside from invalidating statutes, there are many regulations that are biased in favor of large enterprises (who buy support from bureaucrats) at the expense of the competition, effectively repressing the Free Market. Any regulations not related to public safety that gives a financial advantage to some companies over their smaller rivals must be rescinded to enable all companies with good consumer products to excel without burdensome regulations.

Additionally, the Convention should adopt for ratification at least these new Amendments or statute modifications:

  1. clearly define and limit the role of government in regards to the term "general welfare",
  2. Term Limits for CON-gress (12 years) including a 6 month limit on time residing in DC,
  3. strict Prohibition of Lobbying (with a comprehensive definition of "lobbying"), and
  4. a Balanced Budget Amendment to stop wreckless spending. During a CON-gressionally declared "war" (only after USA is attacked or attack is proven "imminent"), deficit spending is permissible.
  5. Restore America to its roots, i.e. Defense, State, Treasury, and Justice. Some Agencies are required like CIA and NSA, both respectively focused on defense against real foreign aggressors and not fictitious paranoid delusions of war mongers. Other agencies help where certain interstate communications are necessary. Most agencies like Agriculture, Education, DEA, IRS (eliminated with 16th Amendment) and many other listed here should be eliminated.
  6. Restore the world Gold Standard with five contentious steps, and
  7. Replace the IMF, World Bank, and Export-Import Bank with facilities that reflect the new Gold Standard, and
  8. After decentralizing and economizing, if tax revenue is needed to fund all or part of the federal government, then implement the Fair Tax.

Regarding a Constitutional Convention itself, some of the available literature warns the reader about a possible "unstructured" and "mismanaged" Convention that might propose and adopt amendments that could damage the Republic. Possible, however, it is difficult to envisage how much more damage could done over what the L-E-J Cabal has already done. If the Convention's agenda and rules of order strictly prohibit violation of the rules and enable a vote on unlisted Amendments AFTER all others are adopted, then the Convention will be properly structured and managed. ]

Why Do We Need Term Limits?

John Adams said, �Without [term limits] every man in power becomes a ravenous beast of prey�. That being said, here are some of the reasons we believe our country needs Term Limits.

  1. Term Limits can help break the cycle of corruption in Congress. Case studies show that the longer an individual stays in office, the more likely they are to stop serving the public and begin serving their own interests.
  2. Term Limits will encourage regular citizens to run for office. Presently, there is a 94% re-election rate in the House and 83% in the Senate. Because of name recognition, and usually the advantage of money, it can be easy to stay in office. Without legitimate competition, what is the incentive for a member of Congress to serve the public? Furthermore, it is almost a lost cause for the average citizen to try to campaign against current members of Congress.
  3. Term Limits will break the power special interest groups have in Congress.
  4. Term Limits will force politicians to think about the impact of their legislation because they will be returning to their communities shortly to live under the laws they enacted.
  5. Term Limits will bring diversity of people and fresh ideas to Congress.

Term limits for lawmakers: when is enough, enough?

[Editor's Note: If you want to get rich, i.e. advance from a low paying government bureaucrat job on the local or state level, THEN GET ELECTED TO THE US CONGRESS (House or Senate). Once you're elected, it's easy to steal from your campaign contributions or the Congressional budget allocated to your seat and staff. You can go on a government-funded junket with 'lavishly' paid expenses. The list of ways to steal from the government while in office is inexhaustible. There are only a few Congressmen who left Congress just wealthy instead of a multi-millionaire. Of course, there are several who arrived in Congress as multi-millionaires and don't need to steal from the government.]

 

CONVENTION of STATES (CoS)

CONVENTION of STATES

BECOME a MEMBER-PARTICIPANT of CONVENTION of STATES here. Get into the Action; Get information. Join here.

The CONgress (by Article V of the Constitution) has proposed and States have ratified many new amendments to the Constitution, some that increase their power over us citizens. CONgress can propose amendments, and the alternative method to CONgressional proposals can come from States via Article V. When "We the People" — meaning a very large majority — are opposed to Acts of CONgress like the INCOME TAX or ENDLESS WARS or the FEDERAL RESERVE, Acts that restrict and regulate our LIBERTY, Acts that are a waste of money, Acts that have caused unrecoverable indebtedness, then through local representaatives of our States WE can propose Amendments to be ratified by States just like CONgress.

STATES and the PEOPLE of America are very angry at the federal goverment's violation of its constitutionally-defined boundaries. States created the federal government in 1787 with LIMITED powers defined in the Constitution. All powers not given by States to the feds remain with the States by Article X. The feds have through deceit, distortion, and falsification rearranged the entire contractual agreement between States and the federal government. The feds have become a very powerful, all consuming force in American government. The time has come for States to rein in the federal government, to take power back, to limit the federal government's power, and to add some detailed restriction to the definition of CONgress, the Executive, and the Judiciary.

In 1787 a central government was (is) necessary only to provide for the common defense and ensure equality under the law for all Citizens, to provide a final arbiter for the resolution of unsolvable problems among States and People. Most laws and regulations that the federal government has wreaked on the States and the People are unconstitutional. States are independent, sovereign countries who realized the need for a limited and defined central government to prevent wasteful duplication of effort. The federal government, in 2017, is OUT OF CONTROL, infringing and interfering with State sovereignty and their separate economies. A problem arose in 2012 with Arizona's attempt to secure their border with Mexico. An article is here. States can prevent infringements by the federal government with an Aricle V Convention of States to not only reverse past federal government "power grabs" but prevent future federal government violations of their Constitutionally-defined boundaries.

A new, well-organized group of volunteers in all 50 states have gathered to restore America to its roots by limiting all 3 branches of the federal government with a Convention of States (CoS) organization (alternate site, CoS Action). This is a Convention of States to AMEND the Constitution — NOT rewrite it! Recently, CoS held an Article V, Convention simulation with appointed volunteers from all 50 States. The simulated Convention demonstrated how a well-organized CoS can vote for proposed amendments to the Consitution that are popular enough to be ratified by the necessary 3/4ths of States (38). Obviously, only proposed Amendments that are likely to pass both Houses of the legislatures of thirty-eight (38) States, that is, the required 3/4ths of States to ratify an Amendment to the Constitution should be proposed. See the Final Report here. The purpose in a Convention of States, simulated or real, is to PROPOSE AMENDMENTS that give power back to the People. The proposed amendments must reflect the thinking, objectives — the goals of people of States — who want to restore our Constitutional Republic to one that represents the people.

ARTICLE V Convention of States—Restore the Appropriate Balance!

ARTICLE V Convention of States—Restore the Appropriate Balance!

ARTICLE V Convention of States—Restore the Appropriate Balance!

A real CoS, requires that 2/3rds of States (34) send an "application" to CONgress requesting that CONgress schedule a CoS. State Legislatures are composed of an Assembly and Senate. Each "house" must pass a bill separately and send the resolution to their Governor. Then the State sends an "application" to the CONgress. When the federal CONgress receives applications from 34 States, the CONgress is required to set a date for the Convention of States. CONgress is NOT involved otherwise. The States have the Convention, propose amendments, and dispatch the precisely worded amendments to their respectives assemblies and senates for ratification. CONgress only schedules the Convention.