MANDATE - CACTUS 2009

A.  The 2009 Citizens’ Assembly for Critical Thinking about the United States (CACTUS) must study proposals for changing the current legal drinking age, identify and analyze the perceived problems leading to these proposals as well as arguments in support of the current legal drinking age, and decide if a change is warranted, at what level of government it should be implemented, and whether other provisions should be mandated as a part of the change.

B.  In carrying out this mandate, the Assembly must:

• First, become well informed as to the current laws and policies and proposed alternatives and their rationales;
• Second, consult with other citizens in the Eastern Kentucky University community of students, faculty, and staff, as well as interested members of the broader community, and provide them the opportunity to make submissions to CACTUS in writing and/or orally at public hearings;
• Third, develop at least two different policy proposals for changing the law regarding the drinking age in the U.S. and then debate and decide between them;
• Fourth, re-examine the current policy and then debate and decide between it and the chosen alternative.

C.  If the Assembly recommends adoption of a change in the current policy governing the legal drinking law, the new policy must be described clearly and in detail in the final report and if a law or laws or a Constitutional amendment would be required at the state or federal level, proposed language for these must be included.

D.  If the Assembly recommends keeping the current policy and laws governing it, the final report must explain the reasons for judging this policy to be preferable to the alternative model most favored by the Assembly.

E.  The decision described in section A must

• be limited to the determination of the appropriate drinking age and any qualifying factors and
• take into account the potential effect on the Constitution, the federal division of powers, the role and cost of law enforcement, and the realistic potential for implementation.

F.  Issues that arise in deliberations or public hearings that are beyond the scope of the mandate (for example, regulation of other controlled substances) but that the Assembly believes to be relevant to the issue may be addressed in the final report.

G.  Whether or not the Assembly chooses to replace or alter the current laws and policies, they must produce a clearly-worded referendum question to this effect to be voted on by the university community and a clearly-worded explanation to be posted with the referendum question.

H.  Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Assembly must make its decision and approve a referendum question no later than April 22, 2009, and must complete and approve its final report no later than April 29, 2009.

I.  The referendum question must be posted no later than April 24, 2009, and voting will continue through May 5, 2009. The decision of the voters shall be announced at the last meeting of the Assembly on May 6, 2009, or as soon thereafter as possible.