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 Con-
stitution are the rights of natural persons only. 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United States of America in Congress assembled
(two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That he fol-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:13 May 21, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HJ48.IH
HJ48
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HJ 48 IH 
lowing article is proposed as an amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all 
intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 
States: 
‘‘ARTICLE — 
‘‘SECTION 1. The rights protected by the Constitution 
of the United States are the rights of natural persons only. 
Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability 
companies, and other entities, established by the laws of 
any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall 
have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to 
regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local 
law. The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined 
by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and 
shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable. 
‘‘SECTION 2. Federal, State, and local government 
shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expendi-
tures, including a candidate’s own contributions and ex-
penditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their 
economic status, have access to the political process, and 
that no person gains, as a result of that person’s money, 
substantially more access or ability to influence in any way 
the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot 
measure. Federal, State, and local governments shall re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:13 May 21, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HJ48.IH
HJ48
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HJ 48 IH 
quire that any permissible contributions and expenditures 
be publicly disclosed. The judiciary shall not construe the 
spending of money to influence elections to be speech 
under the First Amendment. 
‘‘SECTION 3. Nothing contained in this amendment 
shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:13 May 21, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HJ48.IH
HJ48
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS