Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only.
Judiciary Committee, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Constitutional Amendment This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment providing that: (1) the rights protected by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only; (2) artificial entities (such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities established by the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state) shall have no rights under the Constitution and are subject to regulation by the people, through federal, state, or local law; and (3) the privileges of such artificial entities shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable. The amendment requires federal, state, and local government to: (1) regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures, including a candidate's own contributions and expenditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their economic status, have access to the political process and that no person gains, as a result of that person's money, substantially more access or ability to influence the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot measure; and (2) require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed. The judiciary is prohibited from construing the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Constitution and constitutional amendmentsCorporate finance and managementElections, voting, political campaign regulationFirst Amendment rightsPolitical advertising
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only.
USA115th CongressHJRES-48| House
| Updated: 2/8/2017
Constitutional Amendment This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment providing that: (1) the rights protected by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only; (2) artificial entities (such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities established by the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state) shall have no rights under the Constitution and are subject to regulation by the people, through federal, state, or local law; and (3) the privileges of such artificial entities shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable. The amendment requires federal, state, and local government to: (1) regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures, including a candidate's own contributions and expenditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their economic status, have access to the political process and that no person gains, as a result of that person's money, substantially more access or ability to influence the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot measure; and (2) require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed. The judiciary is prohibited from construing the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment.
Judiciary Committee, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Constitution and constitutional amendmentsCorporate finance and managementElections, voting, political campaign regulationFirst Amendment rightsPolitical advertising