An Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

113TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION

S. J. RES. ___

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natural persons by the Constitution of the United States, prohibit corporate spending 

in all elections, and affirm the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations and to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures.

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

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Mr. SANDERS (for himself and Mr. BEGICH) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on __________

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United

States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from

the rights given to natural persons by the Constitution

of the United States, prohibit corporate spending in all

elections, and affirm the authority of Congress and the

States to regulate corporations and to regulate and set

limits on all election contributions and expenditures.

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 within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

ARTICLE—

SECTION 1. The rights protected by the Constitution

of the United States are the rights of natural persons and do not extend to for-profit corporations, limited liability companies, or other private entities

established for business purposes or to promote business interests under the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state.

SECTION 2. Such corporate and other private entities

established under law are subject to regulation by the people through the legislative process so long as such regulations are consistent with the powers of Congress and the States and do not limit the freedom of the press.

SECTION 3. Such corporate and other private entities

shall be prohibited from making contributions or expenditures in any election of any candidate for public office or the vote upon any ballot measure submitted to the people.

SECTION 4. Congress and the States shall have the power to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures, including a candidate’s own spending, and to authorize the establishment of political committees to receive, spend, and publicly disclose the sources of those contributions and expenditures.

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JG: True democracy is rule by the people, and not rule by corporations. Democracy and Fascism are two very different and opposing ideologies.

One thing that is sorely needed in the U.S. current political and economic system is a National Plebiscite, where proposed constitutional amendments and other important proposals would be voted upon directly by the people.

That course of action is necessitated by the fact that the current U.S. Congress is sometimes under the influence of corporate lobbyists. The irresponsibility of our politicians is revealed by major polls; only 12 to 18 % of the population feels that our top legislative body is doing a very good job.

Direct democracy will put an end to the corruption culture in Washington, D.C. They do not behave like responsible people. The big thing right now is 'government by crisis.' The two major political parties are failing the people of the United States.