Bill Details
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View cosponsors (20)
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-California]
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-Hawaii]
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-Maryland]
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-Delaware]
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-Georgia]
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-Minnesota]
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-Minnesota]
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-Oregon]
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-Oregon]
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-Rhode Island]
- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-Colorado]
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-Connecticut]
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-Maine]
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-Arizona]
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-New Mexico]
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-New Jersey]
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-Nevada]
- Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-New York]
- Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-New Hampshire]
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-Vermont]
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would give Congress and state governments the power to set reasonable rules and limits on money used to influence elections. The goal is to protect fair elections, political equality, and the integrity of government. It would also allow lawmakers to treat people and corporations differently under election spending rules, including the option to ban corporations and other created legal entities from spending money to affect elections. At the same time, the proposal says nothing in it can be used to weaken freedom of the press.
- It would let Congress and the states regulate how much money can be raised and spent by candidates and others to influence elections.
- It says lawmakers may make different rules for natural people and for corporations or other legal entities created by law.
- It specifically allows Congress and the states to prohibit corporations and similar entities from spending money to influence elections.
- For this change to take effect, it must first be approved by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and then ratified by three-fourths of the states.
Official Summaries
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections.
The amendment grants Congress and the states the power to implement and enforce this amendment by legislation. They are allowed to distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 43 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. J. RES. 43
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect
elections.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 27, 2025
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr.
Coons, Mr. Warnock, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Smith, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Merkley,
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. King, Mr. Kelly, Mr.
Heinrich, Mr. Kim, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Hassan, Mr.
Welch, Mr. Markey, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms.
Warren, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Gallego, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kaine, Ms.
Hirono, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Peters, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Baldwin,
Mr. Lujan, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Booker) introduced the following joint
resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect
elections.
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. To advance democratic self-government and political
equality, and to protect the integrity of government and the electoral
process, Congress and the States may regulate and set reasonable limits
on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to
influence elections.
``Section 2. Congress and the States shall have power to implement
and enforce this article by appropriate legislation, and may
distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other
artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such
entities from spending money to influence elections.
``Section 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to grant
Congress or the States the power to abridge the freedom of the
press.''.
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