A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.

IIA 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 51 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 JULY 30, 2019 Mr. UDALL (for himself, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. SCHUMER, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. BROWN, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. CARPER, Mr. CASEY, Mr. COONS, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. HARRIS, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. HEINRICH, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. JONES, Mr. KAINE, Mr. KING, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MURPHY, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. PETERS, Mr. REED, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. SCHATZ, Ms. SMITH, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. TESTER, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WARNER, Ms. WAR- REN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. MANCHIN, and Ms. SINEMA) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and re- ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures in- tended to affect elections. 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:46 Jul 31, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SJ51.IS SJ51 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •SJ 51 IS intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 1 ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 2 States: 3 ‘‘ARTICLE — 4 ‘‘SECTION 1. To advance democratic self-government 5 and political equality, and to protect the integrity of gov- 6 ernment and the electoral process, Congress and the 7 States may regulate and set reasonable limits on the rais- 8 ing and spending of money by candidates and others to 9 influence elections. 10 ‘‘SECTION 2. Congress and the States shall have 11 power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate 12 legislation, and may distinguish between natural persons 13 and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, 14 including by prohibiting such entities from spending 15 money to influence elections. 16 ‘‘SECTION 3. Nothing in this article shall be con- 17 strued to grant Congress or the States the power to 18 abridge the freedom of the press.’’. 19 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:46 Jul 31, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SJ51.IS SJ51 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS