To the Members of the United States Congress,

We, the undersigned, write in shared purpose as American citizens who still believe in the Republic and in the values embodied in its founding documents. We call upon all who hold to human dignity, the rule of law, and the equal moral standing of all people to take sober account of the world as it is—and of our responsibility within it.

We must begin by acknowledging a difficult truth: we have failed—the world, ourselves, and one another. But because this Republic rests on popular sovereignty, that failure is not final unless we choose to abandon our responsibility to correct it.

We the People are responsible for the United States of America. With that responsibility comes the obligation to insist that the law be respected and enforced without regard to privilege or power. Those who have violated the rights of others or acted against the collective constitutional interests of the nation must be investigated, held accountable, and—where appropriate—prosecuted. Ill-gotten gains obtained through fraud, abuse of office, or corruption must be subject to restitution.

These obligations apply across political parties. They apply regardless of rank. And they apply, most urgently, to the current President of the United States and senior officials of the executive branch whose actions demonstrate sustained violations of constitutional and statutory limits on executive authority.

This is not an abstract concern. The Constitution recognizes international treaties as part of the supreme Law of the Land under Article VI. Treaties entered into by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate—including the United Nations Charter—carry the force of law. Actions taken in violation of these obligations constitute serious breaches of constitutional duty.

Likewise, Article I, Section 8 vests the power to declare war exclusively in Congress. The War Powers Resolution further constrains unilateral executive military action. These limits exist precisely to prevent the concentration of war-making authority in a single individual. Where those limits are exceeded, Congress has both the authority and the obligation to respond.

We write this on the fifth anniversary of the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol—an event many of you personally endured. That day was an assault on the constitutional framework itself. While that attempt failed, the present danger is more severe because it is operational rather than chaotic: sustained executive action that treats constitutional constraints as optional.

Where January 6th threatened the peaceful transfer of power, the present crisis threatens the constitutional limits that make democratic governance possible at all.

This moment therefore demands action—not rhetoric.

Accordingly, we petition Congress to:

1. Immediately assert Article I war powers, including requiring authorization votes for ongoing or escalated military action.
2. Refuse appropriations for military operations not properly authorized by Congress.
3. Commence impeachment proceedings for high crimes and misdemeanors where executive officials have violated constitutional war powers, treaty obligations, or statutory limits.
4. Exercise Congress’s inherent contempt authority to compel compliance with lawful oversight.
5. Restore constitutional accountability by closing immunity gaps that shield executive officials from judicial review.
6. Reassert democratic constraint over concentrated power, including structural reforms that prevent coordination of economic, political, and media power in ways that undermine republican governance.

To our democratic allies around the world: know this—the American people understand what has been done, and we understand what must now be done. We reaffirm our commitment to an international order grounded in law, democratic legitimacy, and mutual respect. We look forward to restoring relationships strained by actions taken without the consent of the governed.

The generations before us faced crises no less daunting. They endured depression, war, and debt far exceeding today’s burdens—and yet they strengthened this Republic through constitutional means. Now it is our turn.

The framework must be defended—now, while it still exists to defend.

Respectfully,

The Undersigned
Citizens of the United States of America