Olszewski said he plans to introduce the amendment Thursday, Oct. 22. Under the proposal, supporters would have 18 months to collect signatures from at least 5% of voters in the most recent presidential election in each of 25 states. A measure that meets the threshold would go before voters at the next national election and would need 60% of the national vote to pass.

The process could not be used to authorize war or direct federal spending, according to the proposal.

Olszewski cited congressional gridlock and stalled measures such as a ban on congressional stock trading, police body-camera requirements and protections for in vitro fertilization. He said the past two years have brought dysfunction and missed chances to address issues with broad public support.

“If we were acting, there’d be no need for this to come into play,” Olszewski said. He described direct voting as a backstop for Americans when Congress fails to respond, regardless of which party controls it.

The amendment would itself face a formidable path: approval by two-thirds of both the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-quarters of the states. The proposal could also pose significant practical challenges, and Olszewski acknowledged that amending the Constitution is difficult.

A former civics teacher, Olszewski said he hopes the idea will prompt debate about congressional reform, particularly during the lame-duck period. The proposal comes as the 119th Congress has been described as among the least productive in recent decades.