THE COMMANDER’S COVENANT
A Citizens’ Petition for Consideration of a 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution

TO THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:

WHEREAS, the decision to commit the Armed Forces of the United States to armed conflict is among the most solemn responsibilities entrusted to the federal government; and

WHEREAS, the burdens of military service and sacrifice have historically fallen on a limited portion of American families, creating a widening divide between national leadership and those who bear the human cost of war; and

WHEREAS, the American people have long held that public authority must be exercised with shared responsibility, transparency, and equal civic obligation;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the undersigned citizens of the United States, respectfully petition Congress to advance the following principles as the basis for a proposed constitutional amendment:

 

ARTICLE I: MANDATORY EXECUTIVE FAMILY SERVICE IN ANY USE OF MILITARY FORCE
To ensure that decisions involving the use of military force reflect a full appreciation of their consequences, Congress shall establish uniform national service procedures that include:

- Automatic Activation Requirement: In any instance where the President or Vice President authorizes, directs, or approves the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces into armed conflict, all draft‑eligible members of their immediate families shall be automatically activated for military service, regardless of whether a national draft has been declared.

- Non‑Exemption Clause: Such individuals shall not be exempted, deferred, or excused from activation on the basis of familial relationship to federal officials. They shall be subject to the same physical, medical, and age standards applied to all other citizens.

- Priority Assignment: Upon activation, these individuals shall be assigned to roles that reflect the same exposure to risk, operational duties, and deployment standards applicable to the average service member engaged in the conflict.

- Continuity of Government: Congress shall provide statutory procedures ensuring uninterrupted executive function during any period in which immediate family members of the President or Vice President are serving under this mandatory activation requirement.

This Article affirms the principle that no American family, including the families of national leaders, shall be categorically insulated from the obligations and risks borne by the citizens they command into conflict.

 

ARTICLE II: SERVICE‑BASED QUALIFICATIONS FOR COMMAND AUTHORITY
To strengthen public confidence in the individuals entrusted with command authority over the Armed Forces, eligibility for the Offices of President and Vice President shall include:

- Documented Military Service: Completion of at least four (4) years of honorable service in the U.S. Armed Forces; OR

- Documented Frontline Public Service: Completion of at least four (4) years of verifiable full‑time service in a profession requiring direct engagement in public safety, emergency response, medical care, humanitarian relief, or comparable service demonstrating sustained commitment to the welfare of the American people.

This Article establishes a neutral, uniform qualification standard that applies equally to all future candidates, without regard to party, background, or personal circumstance.

 

THE PLEDGE OF THE UNDERSIGNED
By signing this petition, we affirm that the responsibilities of national leadership must reflect the same standards of duty, sacrifice, and accountability expected of the citizens they serve. We call upon Congress to advance an amendment that ensures shared civic obligation, strengthens public trust, and aligns the burdens of war with the principles of equal responsibility.