IA 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 48 

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 20, 2021 

Ms. JAYAPAL (for herself, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. BONAMICI, 

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Ms. BUSH, Mr. CARBAJAL, 

Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Ms. CHU, Mr. CICILLINE, Ms. CRAIG, Mr. DEFAZIO, 

Ms. DELBENE, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. GARCI ́A of Illinois, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. 

HIGGINS of New York, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. 

KAPTUR, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. KILMER, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. LYNCH, 

Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. 

NADLER, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. NEGUSE, Ms. NEWMAN, Ms. NORTON, 

Ms. OMAR, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. PHILLIPS, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. POCAN, 

Ms. PRESSLEY, Mr. RASKIN, Ms. SA ́NCHEZ, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. 

SMITH of Washington, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. THOMPSON of 

California, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. TONKO, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mr. WELCH, Mr. 

DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. BEYER, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. MATSUI, 

Mr. RYAN, Ms. KUSTER, and Ms. MANNING) 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 providing that the rights extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. 

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 he folVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:13 May 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ48.IH HJ48

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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. The rights protected by the Constitution 

8 of the United States are the rights of natural persons only. 

9 Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability 

10 companies, and other entities, established by the laws of 

11 any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall 

12 have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to 

13 regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local 

14 law. The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined 

15 by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and 

16 shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable. 

17 ‘‘SECTION 2. Federal, State, and local government 

18 shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expendi19 tures, including a candidate’s own contributions and ex20 penditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their 

21 economic status, have access to the political process, and 

22 that no person gains, as a result of that person’s money, 

23 substantially more access or ability to influence in any way 

24 the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot 

25 measure. Federal, State, and local governments shall reVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:13 May 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ48.IH HJ48

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1 quire that any permissible contributions and expenditures 

2 be publicly disclosed. The judiciary shall not construe the 

3 spending of money to influence elections to be speech 

4 under the First Amendment. 

5 ‘‘SECTION 3. Nothing contained in this amendment 

6 shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.’’. 

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