Bill Details
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View cosponsors (20)
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-Arizona-7]
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-Georgia-5]
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-New York-20]
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-New York-12]
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-California-19]
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-Georgia-4]
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-Texas-37]
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-Michigan-12]
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-Illinois-3]
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-New York-9]
- Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-District of Columbia]
- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-Rhode Island-2]
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-New York-7]
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-Massachusetts-6]
- Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-Texas-20]
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-California-17]
- Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-Minnesota-4]
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-Ohio-11]
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-California-50]
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-New York-14]
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment that says the rights protected by the Constitution belong only to real people, not corporations or other artificial entities like LLCs. It would allow federal, state, and local governments to regulate or limit the political spending of people and organizations so that wealth does not give anyone unfair influence over elections. It also says money spent to affect elections should not be treated as protected speech. At the same time, it makes clear that the freedom of the press would still be protected.
- Corporations and similar entities would not have constitutional rights or privileges under this amendment.
- Governments could set rules on campaign contributions and spending, including public disclosure of permitted donations and expenses.
- The goal is to make the political process more equal by reducing the power of money in elections.
- The amendment would not change the constitutional protection for freedom of the press.
Official Summaries
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, shall have no rights under the Constitution and are subject to regulation.
The amendment requires federal, state, and local governments to (1) regulate, limit, or prohibit election contributions and expenditures, including a candidate's own contributions and expenditures, to ensure equal access of citizens to the political process, regardless of economic status; and (2) require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed.
Additionally, the judiciary is prohibited from construing the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 54 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 54
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution
are the rights of natural persons only.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2025
Ms. Jayapal (for herself, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr.
Tonko, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Doggett,
Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Norton, Mr.
Magaziner, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Khanna,
Ms. McCollum, Ms. Brown, Mr. Peters, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Salinas,
Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Chu, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Frost, Ms. Adams,
and Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania) submitted the following joint resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution
are the rights of natural persons only.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House
concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:
``Article--
``Section 1. The rights and privileges protected and extended by
the Constitution of the United States are the rights and privileges of
natural persons only. An artificial entity, such as a corporation,
limited liability company, or other entity, 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. The privileges of an artificial
entity shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or
local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable.
``Section 2. Federal, State, and local government shall 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 in
any way the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot
measure. Federal, State, and local governments shall require that any
permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed. The
judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to influence
elections to be speech under the First Amendment.
``Section 3. This amendment shall not be construed to abridge the
right secured by the Constitution of the United States of the freedom
of the press.''.
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