IA 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 78 

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to set 

limits on Federal campaign contributions and spending, prohibit corporate spending in the political process, require Congress to develop 

a system of public campaign financing for all Federal candidates who 

qualify for the ballot, and allow the States to set reasonable limits 

on campaign contributions and spending in State and local elections, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 22, 2023 

Mr. MCGOVERN submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on the Judiciary 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United 

States to set limits on Federal campaign contributions 

and spending, prohibit corporate spending in the political 

process, require Congress to develop a system of public 

campaign financing for all Federal candidates who qualify for the ballot, and allow the States to set reasonable 

limits on campaign contributions and spending in State 

and local elections, and for other purposes. 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled

3 (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the folVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:07 Jun 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ78.IH HJ78

pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HJ 78 IH 

1 lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con2 stitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all 

3 intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 

4 ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 

5 States: 

6 ‘‘ARTICLE— 

7 ‘‘SECTION 1. To advance democratic self-government 

8 and political equality, and to protect the integrity of gov9 ernment and the electoral process, the right of citizens of 

10 the United States to vote in elections in which campaign 

11 contributions and spending are subject to enforceable lim12 its as set forth in this article, shall not be abridged by 

13 the United States. 

14 ‘‘SECTION 2. In any calendar year, no person may 

15 spend or contribute more than one hundred dollars for the 

16 purpose of influencing any other person’s election for the 

17 office of Representative, Senator, President, or Vice Presi18 dent; nor spend for the purpose of influencing elections, 

19 including such person’s own election, for the offices of 

20 Representative, Senator, President, or Vice President, or 

21 contribute to candidates for such offices, their campaigns, 

22 or political parties, more than an aggregate total of one 

23 thousand dollars; provided that Congress may by law pre24 scribe lower limits and may periodically increase the 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HJ 78 IH 

1 amounts set forth in this section, but only to the extent 

2 required by changes in the value of money. 

3 ‘‘SECTION 3. No corporation or other entity created 

4 by law shall contribute or spend any amount for the pur5 pose of influencing any election for the office of Represent6 ative, Senator, the President, or the Vice President; but 

7 a political party or candidate’s campaign may spend the 

8 amounts prescribed by law. 

9 ‘‘SECTION 4. Not later than sixty days after the rati10 fication of this article, Congress shall enact legislation as 

11 follows: 

12 ‘‘To limit the amounts that candidates, their cam13 paigns for the offices of Representative, Senator, Presi14 dent, or Vice President, and political parties may spend 

15 on such candidacies. 

16 ‘‘To provide public funding for all candidates who 

17 qualify for any primary, general, or special election ballot 

18 for Representative, Senator, President, or Vice President 

19 in any State or in the District constituting the seat of 

20 Government of the United States, equaling at least eighty 

21 percent of the amount that may be spent; but for can22 didates for President or Vice President, Congress shall 

23 prescribe by law the manner in which such amount shall 

24 be apportioned based on the States or District wherein 

25 such person qualifies. 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HJ 78 IH 

1 ‘‘To require disposition to the Treasury of any 

2 unspent campaign funds after each election, without com3 pensation. 

4 ‘‘To enforce, with civil and criminal penalties, the 

5 limits and prohibitions in this article. 

6 ‘‘SECTION 5. After one year from the ratification of 

7 this article, no Senator or Representative shall receive any 

8 compensation or other emoluments from the United States 

9 during or for any period of time in office in either House 

10 during which the legislation required by section 4 shall not 

11 have been in effect. 

12 ‘‘SECTION 6. The judicial power of the United States 

13 shall extend to all suits by citizens of the United States 

14 arising under this article, including suits brought directly 

15 under this article to enforce its provisions. 

16 ‘‘SECTION 7. The States shall have power to imple17 ment and enforce reasonable regulations on the raising 

18 and spending of money by candidates and others to influ19 ence State or local elections, including but not limited to 

20 the limits and prohibitions in this article. 

21 ‘‘SECTION 8. This article shall not be construed to 

22 grant Congress or the States the power to abridge the 

23 freedom of the press.’’. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB