CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)

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.

H.J.Res. 54 · House resolution Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

A Democratic resolution with 82 Democratic cosponsors · See all 82 cosponsors

Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

In committee

Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.

The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

The amendment states that the rights and privileges protected by the Constitution belong to natural persons only.

Artificial entities, such as corporations or limited liability companies, would have no constitutional rights.

These artificial entities would be subject to regulation by the people through laws, and their privileges would not be inherent or inalienable.

Governments at all levels would be required to regulate, limit, or prohibit campaign contributions and expenditures to ensure fair access to the political process for all citizens regardless of economic status.

Finally, the spending of money to influence elections would not be construed as speech under the First Amendment, though freedom of the press rights would remain unabridged.

Yes· 3 of 6

  • Scored +9

    Does this limit or expose the money behind campaigns?

    The resolution is specifically designed to reform campaign finance through regulation and disclosure.

  • Scored +7

    Does this make elections run better?

    The bill aims to level the political playing field by regulating money in elections.

  • Scored +7

    Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?

    It mandates public disclosure of all permissible political contributions and expenditures.

The opposite· 3 of 6

  • Scored -7

    Would business owners be better off under this?

    Corporations and LLCs lose constitutional protections and are subject to increased regulation.

  • Scored -7

    Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this?

    The amendment restricts the political influence that can be exerted through personal wealth.

  • Scored -7

    Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this?

    The amendment targets the use of large sums of money to influence elections.