Single Subject & Transparency in Legislation Act — Plain‑language explainer

Summary: My Act ends “mega‑bills,” hidden pork, and deceptive titles. Every bill must deal with one subject only, clearly stated in its title. No more riders, no more “and for other purposes,” no more Orwellian names that hide the truth. Citizens get clarity, courts get enforcement power, and Congress finally has to legislate in the open.

What my Act does

• One bill, one subject: Every law must focus on a single issue — no more thousand‑page omnibus packages.
• No hidden riders: Unrelated clauses are void and unenforceable.
• Clear, honest titles: Bans deceptive or promotional names. Titles must neutrally describe the bill’s actual contents.
• Transparency: Each section cites its legal authority; bills must be public 72 hours before a vote; no “and for other purposes” catch‑alls.
• Citizen enforcement: Courts can strike down unrelated provisions or misleading titles without killing the whole bill.
• Penalties for Congress: Sponsors of deceptive or multi‑subject bills face censure; committees lose budget if they report them out.

Why it matters

• Ends mega‑bills: No more log‑rolling or hostage‑taking votes.
• Stops pork and poison pills: Every clause must be germane to the subject.
• Honest names: No more Orwellian titles that promise one thing but do another.
• Empowers citizens: Gives voters and courts the power to hold Congress accountable.
• Future‑proof: Locks in transparency and accountability for the next generation of lawmaking.

Legal backbone

• Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) — current framework that enables omnibus appropriations.
• House Rule XXI, Clause 7 — weakly enforced ban on legislating in appropriations bills.
• State single‑subject rules — Florida, California, Colorado constitutions.
• International examples — Philippines and Switzerland enforce single‑subject principles.
• GAO reports — document opacity in riders and appropriations.
• Scholarly work — Yale Law & Policy Review on deceptive bill titles; The Conversation on misleading names.

Bottom line: “My Act ends the Christmas‑tree bills, bans deceptive titles, and forces Congress to legislate issue by issue, in the open, with no hidden pork.”