Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide that Congress and the States shall have certain authority to regulate and limit contributions and spending in campaigns for elections for public office, elections for public office, and ballot initiatives and referendums.
Sponsored By: Representative Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7]
Introduced
Summary
Authorize limits on campaign contributions and spending. The proposed amendment would add a new article to the Constitution that names several "compelling sovereign interests," including freedom of speech, representative self-government, federalism, electoral integrity, and the political equality of natural persons.
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- Would allow Congress and the states to reasonably regulate and limit contributions to and spending in campaigns for public office and in state or local ballot initiatives and referendums.
- Would permit laws that distinguish natural persons from artificial entities and could prohibit artificial entities from raising or spending money in those campaigns and ballot measures.
- Would give Congress and the states explicit authority to implement and enforce the amendment by passing appropriate legislation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Limits on corporate campaign spending
If enacted, the amendment would let Congress and states reasonably regulate and limit contributions and spending in federal, state, and local campaigns and ballot measures. It would explicitly allow laws that treat natural persons differently from companies and other artificial entities. The amendment would permit Congress and states to prohibit artificial entities from raising or spending money in campaigns and ballot initiatives. The amendment itself would not set dollar limits or effective dates; details would come from later federal or state laws enacted under this article.
Declares key democratic interests
If enacted, the amendment would state that the people have compelling interests in free speech, representative self-government, federalism, the integrity of elections, and the political equality of natural persons. That list would guide courts and lawmakers when they make or judge campaign finance rules under the amendment. The clause itself would not create new spending limits or enforcement rules. Any concrete changes would come from later laws enacted under the article.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7]
MI • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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