The Political Equality Amendment: H.J.Res. 20

Free Speech For People supports two amendment bills, both introduced in the 113th Congress by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA):

H.J.Res. 20, which we also call the Political Equality Amendment, restores the authority of Congress and the states to limit campaign spending in all categories; it’s similar to a bill introduced previously by Senator Tom Udall, with 25 U.S. Senate co-sponsors. The full text of H.J.Res. 20 is below.

We also support H.J.Res. 21, also known as the People’s Rights Amendment, which makes it clear that corporations do not have constitutional rights, as if they were people; it has bi-partisan support in the House from Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), along with many other co-sponsors.

113th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. J. RES. 20

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures with respect to elections.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 22, 2013

Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself, Ms. PINGREE of Maine, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. HOLT, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. LANGEVIN, and Ms. SHEA-PORTER) introduced 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 relating to contributions and expenditures with respect to elections.

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. To advance the fundamental principle of political equality for all, Congress shall have power to regulate the raising and spending of money and in-kind equivalents with respect to Federal elections, including through setting limits on—

(1) the amount of contributions to candidates for nomination for election to, or for election to, Federal office; and

(2) the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to such candidates.

Section 2. To advance the fundamental principle of political equality for all, a State shall have power to regulate the raising and spending of money and in-kind equivalents with respect to State elections, including through setting limits on—

(1) the amount of contributions to candidates for nomination for election to, or for election to, State office; and

(2) the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to such candidates.

Section 3. Congress shall have power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.