



115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. J. RES. 48

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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 30, 2017

Mr. Nolan (for himself, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Takano, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. O'Rourke, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Lee, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Engel, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Capuano, Mr. Ted Lieu of California, Mr. Norcross, and Mr. Jones) 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 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 protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only. 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 this Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privileges of artificial entities 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.”.