The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has unveiled a new program that includes proposals to abolish the U.S. Senate, the presidency, and the Supreme Court, advocating for a fundamental restructuring of the American system of government. This platform, which contemplates the advent of a classless society, has been described as a revolutionary approach that seeks to dismantle the constitutional order established in 1789.
The proposal to eliminate the Senate has drawn significant attention. DSA co-chair Gustavo Gordillo has argued that the Senate is an "undemocratic" institution. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has also expressed opposition to the filibuster and certain Senate elements, suggesting they have historical ties to the Jim Crow era.
Critics contend that the Senate is a democratic body, as senators must win elections against their opponents. The chamber's structure, with six-year terms and staggered elections, is designed to provide insulation from immediate public sentiment, offering a check on popular passions that contrasts with the House of Representatives. Furthermore, Senate rules emphasize consensus and delay.
Regarding the historical reference to Jim Crow, the filibuster, while used to impede civil rights legislation, has also been employed by minority parties, including Senate Democrats opposing former President Donald Trump, to block opposing agendas.
Another key function of the Senate highlighted is providing equal representation for smaller states, a feature often cited as undemocratic. For example, Wyoming, with a population of approximately 600,000, has two senators, the same number as California, which has nearly 40 million residents. This provision aims to prevent large states from dominating national governance and to ensure smaller, less populated areas have a voice.
The U.S. Constitution addresses this issue in Article V, stating, "No State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate." This clause suggests that the Founders intended to make equal state representation in the Senate unamendable by constitutional means.
The DSA's proposed system bears resemblance to the Articles of Confederation, which featured a unicameral legislature and lacked a presidency or federal courts, resulting in a weak central government. However, the DSA's objective appears to be the creation of a powerful federal government unburdened by the checks and balances inherent in a multi-layered federal system. This approach has been likened to what Lord Hailsham termed an "elective dictatorship."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously spoken out against what he described as left-wing extremists seeking to dismantle "the physical embodied symbols of power and invention and achievement," a sentiment that critics suggest could encompass the DSA's proposed systemic changes to the U.S. constitutional order.