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.
- Sponsor
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
- Committees
- Judiciary Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Feb 12, 2025
Bottom line
This joint resolution seeks to fundamentally alter the legal status of corporations and campaign finance regulations by amending the U.S. Constitution to define rights as belonging exclusively to natural persons and empowering governments to regulate money in politics.
What it actually does
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly limit the rights and privileges protected by the U.S. Constitution to natural persons, thereby excluding artificial entities such as corporations. It grants federal, state, and local governments the authority to regulate campaign finance, including contributions and expenditures, to ensure equitable access to the political process. The amendment also clarifies that spending money to influence elections shall not be construed as speech under the First Amendment, while explicitly protecting the freedom of the press.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue this amendment would restore democratic principles by preventing corporations from exercising rights intended for individuals and by allowing for robust campaign finance reform to reduce the influence of money in politics, thereby ensuring all citizens have equitable access to the political process.
Opponents contend
Opponents contend that this amendment would infringe upon free speech rights, particularly for organizations and associations, and could lead to government overreach in regulating political expression, potentially stifling dissent and limiting the ability of groups to advocate for their interests.
The bill text is very short and straightforward to read, but its profound implications require significant consideration and analysis.
Article --, Section 1
Constitutional Rights Limited to Natural Persons
This section states that only natural persons (human beings) possess the rights and privileges protected by the U.S. Constitution. It explicitly denies such rights to artificial entities like corporations or limited liability companies, making them subject to regulation by federal, state, or local law. Their privileges would be determined by law, not considered inherent or inalienable.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision would address concerns about 'corporate personhood,' ensuring that constitutional protections are reserved for human beings and preventing corporations from using these rights to influence policy in ways that may not align with public interest.
Critics contend
Critics contend that denying constitutional rights to artificial entities could undermine the ability of groups (including non-profits, unions, and media organizations) to advocate for their members or causes, potentially leading to government overreach and suppression of collective expression.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the desire to limit corporate influence with potential implications for collective action and the rights of groups to organize and express themselves.
Article --, Section 2
Government Authority to Regulate Campaign Finance
This section grants federal, state, and local governments the explicit power to regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures in elections, including a candidate's own spending. The goal is to ensure all citizens, regardless of wealth, have access to the political process and that money does not grant disproportionate influence. It also mandates public disclosure of all permissible contributions and expenditures and explicitly states that spending money to influence elections is not considered speech under the First Amendment.
Article --, Section 3
Protection for Freedom of the Press
This section clarifies that the proposed amendment should not be interpreted to diminish or abridge the constitutional right to freedom of the press.