Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HJR54 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/13/2025

                            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
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•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
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•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 
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