Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide that Congress and the States shall have certain authority to regulate and limit contributions and spending in campaigns for elections for public office, elections for public office, and ballot initiatives and referendums.
- Bill Number
- H.J.Res. 191
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:06:11Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It aims to grant Congress and the states explicit authority to regulate and limit contributions and spending in federal, state, and local election campaigns, as well as state or local ballot initiatives and referendums.
Key Provisions
- Section 1 declares that the people have important interests in free speech, self-government, federalism, election integrity, and equal political participation by individuals.
- Section 2 states that the Constitution does not prevent Congress or the states from reasonably regulating and capping contributions and spending in these elections and ballot measures. It specifically allows distinctions between individuals and artificial entities (such as corporations) and permits bans on artificial entities raising or spending money in these activities.
- Section 3 gives Congress and the states the power to create and enforce laws carrying out this amendment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The amendment would add new constitutional language that expressly permits limits on campaign money that current Supreme Court rulings have restricted under the First Amendment. It introduces the ability to treat corporations and similar entities differently from people and to bar those entities from direct spending in elections and ballot measures.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Federal and state lawmakers could enact new campaign finance rules without facing the same constitutional challenges that exist today.
- Citizens: Individuals might see changes in how political messages are funded and presented, though the amendment preserves their own rights to participate.
- International relations: No direct effects are outlined in the resolution.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of Congress and state legislatures, who would gain new regulatory powers.
- Political candidates, parties, and advocacy groups involved in elections and ballot measures.
- Corporations, unions, and other organizations that currently spend on campaigns.
- Voters and the general public, whose election processes could be shaped by any new rules.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The proposal would alter the constitutional balance on campaign finance by overriding certain free-speech protections established in prior court decisions. Ratification would require approval by three-fourths of the states within seven years. It represents a direct effort to expand government authority over political spending while maintaining distinctions based on entity type.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide that Congress and the States shall have certain authority to regulate and limit contributions and spending in campaigns for elections for public office, elections for public office, and ballot initiatives and referendums. — issued 2026-06-03 — PDF (2 pages)