Governance & Democracy
Building systems that prioritize transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.
We don’t want to run the existing political machine more efficiently — we want to rebuild it with better parts. Governance should be transparent, adaptive, and driven by the people it serves. That means reforming not just who holds power, but how power is held accountable.
We don’t trust people to govern well simply because they hold office. We trust systems that make good governance more likely — and bad governance easier to detect and correct. That’s what the Halcyon approach to governance is all about.
Electoral Reform
Let voters choose more than just “the lesser evil.”
We support:
Ranked-choice voting in all federal elections to eliminate vote-splitting and encourage broader coalitions.
Open primaries that allow independents and all voters to participate in candidate selection — not just party loyalists.
Pilot programs exploring proportional representation to assess its potential for better reflecting diverse constituencies in multi-member districts.
Congressional Term Limits
Ensure regular turnover and fresh perspectives in Congress.
We propose:
12-year term limits for U.S. Senators and Representatives.
Phased implementation with staggered turnover to avoid legislative disruption.
Allowing exceptions only via direct public vote in the representative’s district.
End Gerrymandering
Voters should choose politicians — not the other way around.
We support:
Independent redistricting commissions in every state.
Use of transparent, nonpartisan mapping algorithms as analytical tools.
Mandatory public input and review before final maps are approved.
Campaign Finance Reform
Promote equitable access to political influence.
We advocate for:
Public campaign financing options to reduce dependency on big donors.
Real-time donation disclosure for all contributions over $200.
Restrictions on lobbyist fundraising directed towards any sitting elected official.
Transparency in Lawmaking
Make bills more accessible and understandable, to Congress and to the public.
We will implement:
48-hour public notice and plain-language summaries before any major vote.
Public “policy patch notes” after passage, documenting what changed and why.
Consider incorporating mandatory performance metrics in every bill, with sunset clauses if they aren’t met.
Evidence-Based Decision-Making
Utilize unbiased data and public input to inform policy.
We commit to:
Deliberative polling and citizen juries to gather public input before major reforms.
Expert analysis and diverse perspectives on proposed laws — with dissenting voices formally recorded and addressed.
Post-implementation audits comparing predicted vs. actual outcomes.
Government Accountability Dashboards
Track what your representatives actually do.
We will build:
Live dashboards showing every vote, policy shift, and legislative success/failure for each Halcyon-endorsed official.
Transparent correction logs when positions change — with reasoning and evidence attached.
Voter review tools so constituents can evaluate performance before elections.
Cross-Partisan Lawmaking
Foster collaboration and consensus-building in policy development.
We require:
Encourage bipartisan and cross-ideological sponsorship for all Halcyon-supported bills.
Publicly documented negotiation trails, showing how opposing viewpoints were considered and incorporated.
Independent fact-checking panels to vet claims made in public hearings and floor debates.
Judicial Oversight & Balance
Maintain a fair and impartial judiciary.
We support:
Term limits or age caps for Supreme Court justices, balanced by nonpartisan selection panels.
Mandatory recusal rules for justices with clear conflicts of interest.
Increased transparency of case selection criteria and non-binding citizen review panels for controversial rulings.