Federal

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.

Source: Congress.gov · 569 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit rights protected by the Constitution to natural persons only (individual human beings). It would prevent corporations, limited liability companies, and other artificial entities from having constitutional rights. The amendment also addresses campaign contributions and spending in elections.

Who It Affects

Natural persons (individual human beings) would be the only entities with constitutional rights. Corporations, limited liability companies, and other artificial entities created by law would be affected. Federal, state, and local governments would have new regulatory powers. Citizens would be affected by campaign finance rules.

Key Provisions

* Only natural persons would have rights and privileges protected by the Constitution, while artificial entities like corporations and limited liability companies would have no constitutional rights (Sec. 1) * Artificial entities would be subject to regulation by the people through federal, state, or local law, and their privileges would be determined by law rather than being considered inherent or unchangeable (Sec. 1) * Federal, state, and local governments could regulate, limit, or prohibit campaign contributions and spending to ensure all citizens have equal access to the political process regardless of their wealth (Sec. 2) * All permitted campaign contributions and expenditures must be publicly disclosed (Sec. 2) * Courts must not treat spending money to influence elections as free speech protected by the First Amendment (Sec. 2) * The amendment would not limit freedom of the press (Sec. 3)

What Changes

If this amendment becomes law, artificial entities would lose any constitutional rights they currently have. Governments could regulate political campaign money more broadly. Courts would interpret spending money on elections differently than they do now.

Important Definitions

Natural persons: individual human beings Artificial entity: a corporation, limited liability company, or other entity created by the laws of any state, the United States, or a foreign state

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

IA 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 54 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. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 10, 2023 Ms. JAYAPAL (for herself, Mr. KILMER, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. NEGUSE, Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. PETERS, Ms. TOKUDA, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. POCAN, Mrs. TRAHAN, Ms. CLARKE of New York, and Mr. EVANS) submitted the following joint res- olution; 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 protected and extended by the Constitution 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:26 Apr 20, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ54.IH HJ54 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HJ 54 IH ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 1 States: 2 ‘‘ARTICLE — 3 ‘‘SECTION 1. The rights and privileges protected and 4 extended by the Constitution of the United States are the 5 rights and privileges of natural persons only. An artificial 6 entity, such as a corporation, limited liability company, or 7 other entity, established by the laws of any State, the 8 United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights 9 under the Constitution and are subject to regulation by 10 the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privi- 11 leges of an artificial entity shall be determined by the Peo- 12 ple, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not 13 be construed to be inherent or inalienable. 14 ‘‘SECTION 2. Federal, State, and local government 15 shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expendi- 16 tures, including a candidate’s own contributions and ex- 17 penditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their 18 economic status, have access to the political process, and 19 that no person gains, as a result of that person’s money, 20 substantially more access or ability to influence in any way 21 the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot 22 measure. Federal, State, and local governments shall re- 23 quire that any permissible contributions and expenditures 24 be publicly disclosed. The judiciary shall not construe the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:26 Apr 20, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ54.IH HJ54 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HJ 54 IH spending of money to influence elections to be speech 1 under the First Amendment. 2 ‘‘SECTION 3. This amendment shall not be construed 3 to abridge the right secured by the Constitution of the 4 United States of the freedom of the press.’’. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:26 Apr 20, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HJ54.IH HJ54 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.