Urging Congress to propose and submit to the states an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that overturns Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, establishing that the spending of money to influence elections shall not be construed as speech under the First Amendment, and clarifying that only natural persons are protected by constitutional rights.
If adopted, SCR2 would signify a substantial shift in campaign finance law, reestablishing limitations on corporate spending in elections. The resolution indicates concerns that the current interpretation of the First Amendment has enabled disproportionate influence from corporate entities, which could drown out the voices of individual voters. By seeking to amend the Constitution, SCR2 aims to return to a system where human voices hold more weight than the financial power of corporations, thereby promoting what supporters argue is a healthier democratic process.
SCR2 is a concurrent resolution introduced in the Texas Legislature urging Congress to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution. The resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which allowed for unlimited financial contributions from corporations in elections by interpreting such spending as free speech under the First Amendment. The intent of SCR2 is to clarify that only natural persons are to be afforded constitutional rights, especially in the context of electioneering efforts.
The issue raised by SCR2 is highly contentious. Proponents of the resolution, including various lawmakers and advocacy groups, argue that the Citizens United ruling undermines democracy by allowing corporate interests to overshadow the will of the individual electorate. Critics, however, may argue that restricting corporate spending could further entrench political inequalities, rather than diminish them. The debate surrounding SCR2 reflects broader discussions about the role of money in politics and the rights of corporate entities versus those of individual voters in a democratic society.