The People’s Rights Amendment: H.J.Res. 21

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

H.J.Res. 21, also known as the People’s Rights Amendment, 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. The full text of H.J.Res. 21 is below. A petition and video in support of this bill are available here.

We also support H.J.Res. 20, which we also call the Political Equality Amendment, restores Congress’ and the states’ authority 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.

113th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. J. RES. 21

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to clarify the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations, limited liability companies or other corporate entities established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 22, 2013

Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself, Mr. JONES, Ms. PINGREE of Maine, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. FARR, Mr. DEFAZIO, and Ms. LEE of California) 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 to clarify the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations, limited liability companies or other corporate entities established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state.

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. We the people who ordain and establish this Constitution intend the rights protected by this Constitution to be the rights of natural persons.

Section 2. The words people, person, or citizen as used in this Constitution do not include corporations, limited liability companies or other corporate entities established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state, and such corporate entities are subject to such regulation as the people, through their elected State and Federal representatives, deem reasonable and are otherwise consistent with the powers of Congress and the States under this Constitution.

Section 3. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the people's rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, freedom of association and all such other rights of the people, which rights are unalienable.