Long Way from Madison—Time to Rethink, Revise

Qualifications

Standards Enforcement 

Prerequisites for Public Office

We are a long way—carelessly and arrogantly distanced—

from Madison, Jay, Adams, Lincoln.

Federal Houses of Congress Past Tense

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

“The Constitution placed notably few hurdles between ordinary citizens and becoming a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The founders wanted the House to be the legislative chamber closest to the people—the least restrictive on age, citizenship, and the only federal office at the time subject to frequent popular election.

The Constitution requires Members of the US House of Representatives to have reached the age of twenty-five years; to have held United States citizenship for at least seven years, and to hold residency in the state they represent (though not necessarily the same district).

“…Article VI, clause 3 requires that all Members take an oath to support the Constitution before they exercise the duties of their office.

In Federalist 52, James Madison of Virginia wrote that, ‘Under these reasonable limitations, the door of this part of the federal government is open to merit of every description, whether native or adoptive, whether young or old, and without regard to poverty or wealth, or to any particular profession of religious faith.’” Source: Constitutional Qualifications https://history.House.gov/Institution/Origins-Development/Constitutional-Qualifications/

UNITED STATES SENATE

“Qualifications for the US Senate were more rigorous than those for the US House.” The Framers required Members of the Senate to have reached the age of thirty years; to have held United States citizenship for at least nine years; and, at the time of the election, to hold residency in the state in which they were elected (U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 2).

“The author of the Federalist No. 62 explained the difference in requirements for US Representatives and US Senators as arising from the nature of the senatorial trust, which, requiring greater extent of information and ability of character, requires at the same time that the senator should have reached a period of life most likely to supply these advantages; and which, participating immediately in transactions with foreign nations, ought to be exercised by none who are not thoroughly weaned from the prepossessions and habits incident to foreign birth and education” (The Federalist No. 62, Alexander Hamilton or James Madison). Source: Constitution Annotated: Analysis and Interpretation of the US Constitution https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S2-C2-1/ALDE_00013371/

H

owever, since, in the later eras—far past the care, earnestness and abilities of the founding revolutionaries (Adams and Jay), the 1700s constitutional framers (Madison and Jay), through the 1800s (Lincoln) commitment to preserving and strengthening the Union of colonies and states of America—the population, leadership and key figures of the United States are far less learned and literate and moral. Their whose exclusive self-interest is careless of America and its institutions. It seems that further requirements for the US House of Representatives and the US Senate are necessary. Substantive, strict and enforced requirements of intellect, morality, integrity, mental, physical and psychological stability and soundness; demonstrated professionalism and pertinent public- service experiential prerequisites are imperative to carrying out proper functions and affairs of government in matters foreign and domestic.

Present Tense

The emphasis on circulating finance, payola, pay-to-play, kickbacks, money laundering through dummy entities variously called foundations and not-for-profits and for-profits and nonprofits and non-governmental organizations, pandering to narrower and narrower interests have destroyed any semblance of Madison’s “closeness to the people,” any semblance of public service, stewardship or due diligence.

Americans might ponder these thoughts as Tennesseans approach a December 2, 2025, special election to fill a Seventh District US House of Representatives seat involving lead contenders Aftyn Alyssa Behn and Matthew Robert Van Epps.

Leading Candidates FEC Financials, General Reference Credentials

Total spent Coverage dates: 07/01/2025 to 11/12/2025                       TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS: $708,891.98   OPERATING EXPENDITURES: $699,286.48	Total spent Coverage dates: 04/01/2025 to 11/12/2025   TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS: $761,548.70   OPERATING EXPENDITURES: $757,293.70
Cash summary Coverage dates: 07/01/2025 to 11/12/2025   ENDING CASH ON HAND: $521,737.18 DEBTS/LOANS OWED TO COMMITTEE: $0.00 DEBTS/LOANS OWED BY COMMITTEE: $19,943.76	Cash summary Coverage dates: 04/01/2025 to 11/12/2025   ENDING CASH ON HAND:            $231,166.88 DEBTS/LOANS OWED TO COMMITTEE: $0.00 DEBTS/LOANS OWED BY COMMITTEE: $120,577.15
Financial Summary  Federal Election Commission (FEC) Data https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6TN07195/	Financial Summary Federal Election Commission (FEC) Data https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6TN07161/
Credentials – Public Service (Behn) Activist, Politician, Licensed Social Worker; Education: Graduate multiple degrees University of Texas at Austin (liberal arts, psychology; Steve Hicks School of Social Work MSW in administration and policy practice, Texas Center for Disability Studies portfolio certificate); Work: Tennessee Justice Center healthcare community organizer	Credentials – Public Service (Van Epps) Profession unclear; Education: graduate military academy degree in political science and mechanical engineering; Work: member US/Tennessee military/National Guard; staff TN State Dept of General Services & TN Governor’s office

Tennessee - House District 07 2026 | HOUSE https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/TN/07/2026/ Candidate Financial Totals Candidate Total receipts Total disbursements Cash on hand Behn, Aftyn $1,230,629.16 $708,891.98 $521,737.18 Van Epps, Matthew Robert $992,715.58 $761,548.70 $231,166.88 Bulso, Gino $757,062.34 $701,501.32 $55,561.02 Copeland, Darden Hunter $587,799.79 $495,603.05 $100,580.82 Reeves, Lee Brian Mr. Jr. $578,854.35 $550,388.04 $28,466.31 Foley, Mason $405,548.00 $391,822.44 $13,725.56 Parks, Stewart Thomas $362,209.68 $358,594.61 $3,615.07 Barrett, Joseph Michael $316,907.49 $255,345.24 $61,562.25 Mitchell, James Bo $228,777.25 $198,633.39 $30,143.86 Dixie, Vincent $161,608.64 $145,924.05 $15,684.59 Candidate Total receipts Total disbursements Cash on hand Knight, Jason $41,864.78 $36,093.06 $5,771.72 Cooper, Stuart $35,150.32 $35,150.32 $0.00 Thorp, Jonathan $12,319.22 $13,530.00 $0.00 Leurs, Joseph H $6,608.08 $17,897.29 $0.00 Jones, David O. Jr. $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Dagan, Adolph $0.00 $0.00 $0.00  https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/TN/07/2026/ Final Word

For long, long time, we Americans in our words and deeds have been a long, long way from Madison. It is sacrilege to mention the founders and framers and their good work because we are ignorant of their substance and have no devotion to their work and improving upon the substance of their legacy. Our leaders, major media personalities and public figures are vulgar and lacking in honesty and integrity, deficient in discipline, emotional stability, intelligence and due diligence. America is hurting far deeper than image or optics. We are suffering. Our country and its institutions and its legacy of a Union of States (indivisible) is betrayed and arrogantly broken.  

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Prolific Southern-Born American Writer Dr. Carolyn LaDelle Bennett focuses on People, Press, Politics USA; Domestic and Foreign Affairs (no copyright claimed in direct quotes and individual image)

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