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.
Impact
If passed, HJR54 would lead to significant alterations in how campaign contributions and expenditures are regulated. It stipulates that federal, state, and local governments must regulate and potentially limit these contributions to ensure equitable access to the political process for all citizens, irrespective of their economic status. The proposed amendment intends to mitigate the disparity in influence that wealth disparity creates in political campaigns. Furthermore, it mandates public disclosure of any allowable contributions or expenses. This would be a crucial step towards ensuring transparency in political financing.
Summary
HJR54 proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States which asserts that the rights and privileges guaranteed by the Constitution are exclusively for natural persons. The bill aims to clarify that artificial entities, such as corporations or limited liability companies, do not possess constitutional rights. This resolution is a response to concerns about the influence of money in politics and aims to reinforce the principle that citizens should not be outmatched in political power by entities with significant financial resources. HJR54 emphasizes that the rights of artificial entities are determined by the people through applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Contention
The introduction of HJR54 could invite extensive debate in legislative and public arenas regarding the interpretation of rights and individual freedoms as it pertains to corporate entities. Proponents of the resolution argue that defining rights solely for natural persons is a necessary corrective measure against perceived overreach by corporations into political influence. However, opponents may contend that limiting the rights of artificial entities could impede legitimate business activity and related freedoms. Furthermore, how this amendment interacts with the First Amendment's freedom of speech will likely be a central topic of contention, as the bill explicitly states that expenditures aimed at influencing elections should not be construed as protected speech under this amendment.
Related
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only.
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.
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only.
Expressing the sense of Congress that the article of amendment commonly known as the "Equal Rights Amendment" has been validly ratified and is enforceable as the Twenty-Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and the Archivist of the United States must certify and publish the Equal Rights Amendment as the Twenty-Eighth Amendment without delay.