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.

IA 116TH 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 FEBRUARY 22, 2019 Ms. JAYAPAL (for herself, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. NORTON, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. RYAN, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. TAKANO, Ms. SCHA- KOWSKY, Ms. BONAMICI, and Ms. GABBARD) 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 Con- stitution are the rights of natural persons only. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 1 of the United States of America in Congress assembled 2 (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the fol- 3 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con- 4 stitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all 5 intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 6 ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:17 Feb 22, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ48.IH HJ48 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HJ 48 IH States within seven years after the date of its submission 1 for ratification: 2 ‘‘ARTICLE — 3 ‘‘SECTION 1. The rights protected by the Constitution 4 of the United States are the rights of natural persons only. 5 Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability 6 companies, and other entities, established by the laws of 7 any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall 8 have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to 9 regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local 10 law. The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined 11 by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and 12 shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable. 13 ‘‘SECTION 2. Federal, State and local government 14 shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expendi- 15 tures, including a candidate’s own contributions and ex- 16 penditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their 17 economic status, have access to the political process, and 18 that no person gains, as a result of that person’s money, 19 substantially more access or ability to influence in any way 20 the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot 21 measure. Federal, State, and local governments shall re- 22 quire that any permissible contributions and expenditures 23 be publicly disclosed. The judiciary shall not construe the 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:17 Feb 22, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ48.IH HJ48 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HJ 48 IH spending of money to influence elections to be speech 1 under the First Amendment. 2 ‘‘SECTION 3. Nothing contained in this amendment 3 shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.’’. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:17 Feb 22, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HJ48.IH HJ48 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS