IA 119THCONGRESS 1 STSESSION H. J. RES. 54 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. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY12, 2025 Ms. J AYAPAL(for herself, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. WILLIAMSof Georgia, Mr. T ONKO, Mr. NADLER, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. JOHNSONof Georgia, Mr. DOG- GETT, Ms. TLAIB, Mrs. RAMIREZ, Ms. CLARKEof New York, Ms. NOR- TON, Mr. MAGAZINER, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. CASTROof Texas, Mr. K HANNA, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. BROWN, Mr. PETERS, Ms. O CASIO-CORTEZ, Ms. SALINAS, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. CARBAJAL, Ms. CHU, Mr. V ARGAS, Mr. FROST, Ms. ADAMS, and Ms. LEEof Pennsylvania) submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Com- mittee on the Judiciary JOINT RESOLUTION 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. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 1 of the United States of America in Congress assembled2 (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the fol-3 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con-4 stitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:48 Feb 13, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ54.IH HJ54 kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HJ 54 IH intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 1 ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 2 States: 3 ‘‘A RTICLE— 4 ‘‘S ECTION1. The rights and privileges protected and 5 extended by the Constitution of the United States are the 6 rights and privileges of natural persons only. An artificial 7 entity, such as a corporation, limited liability company, or 8 other entity, established by the laws of any State, the 9 United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights 10 under the Constitution and are subject to regulation by 11 the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privi-12 leges of an artificial entity shall be determined by the Peo-13 ple, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not 14 be construed to be inherent or inalienable. 15 ‘‘S ECTION2. Federal, State, and local government 16 shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expendi-17 tures, including a candidate’s own contributions and ex-18 penditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their 19 economic status, have access to the political process, and 20 that no person gains, as a result of that person’s money, 21 substantially more access or ability to influence in any way 22 the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot 23 measure. Federal, State, and local governments shall re-24 quire that any permissible contributions and expenditures 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:48 Feb 13, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ54.IH HJ54 kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HJ 54 IH be publicly disclosed. The judiciary shall not construe the 1 spending of money to influence elections to be speech 2 under the First Amendment. 3 ‘‘S ECTION3. This amendment shall not be construed 4 to abridge the right secured by the Constitution of the 5 United States of the freedom of the press.’’. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:48 Feb 13, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HJ54.IH HJ54 kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB