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.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This joint resolution proposes the We the People-style amendment that constitutional rights are the rights of natural persons only. Corporations, limited liability companies, and other artificial entities would have privileges determined by federal, state, or local law rather than inherent constitutional rights. The amendment also directs federal, state, and local governments to regulate, limit, or prohibit campaign contributions and expenditures so money does not produce substantially greater political access, and it bars courts from treating election spending as First Amendment speech.
Who Benefits and How
Campaign finance reform advocates benefit because the amendment would let governments limit political spending more aggressively. Voters with less economic power benefit if contribution and expenditure limits reduce money-based access to candidates. State election regulators benefit from explicit constitutional permission to regulate campaign money and require disclosure. Local governments benefit from restored authority to regulate artificial entities under ordinary law.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Corporations lose constitutional-rights arguments against many federal, state, and local regulations. Political spending organizations lose First Amendment protection for election expenditures if the amendment is ratified. Courts must stop construing spending money to influence elections as speech under the First Amendment. Business associations must operate under privileges defined by statute rather than inherent constitutional rights.
Key Provisions
- Provides that constitutional rights and privileges are rights of natural persons only.
- Requires artificial entities to rely on privileges defined by federal, state, or local law.
- Authorizes governments to regulate, limit, or prohibit campaign contributions and expenditures.
- Bars courts from treating money spent to influence elections as First Amendment speech.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Proposes a constitutional amendment declaring that constitutional rights belong only to natural persons and authorizing governments to regulate political spending by artificial entities.
Key Policy Areas
Constitutional Amendment, Campaign Finance, Corporate Regulation
Primary Purpose
Proposes a constitutional amendment declaring that constitutional rights belong only to natural persons and authorizing governments to regulate political spending by artificial entities.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Campaign finance reform advocates
- Voters with less economic power
- State election regulators
- Local governments
Identified Costs
- Corporations
- Political spending organizations
- Courts
- Business associations
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
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