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SJRES 33 112th Congress Senate

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natural persons by the Constitution of the…

Official title: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natura… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natural persons by the Constitution of the United States, prohibit corporate spending in all elections, and affirm the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations and to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures.

Introduced: December 8, 2011 Introduced by: Sanders, Bernard Independent · Vermont See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Constitution and constitutional amendmentsCorporate finance and managementElections, voting, political campaign regulationFirst Amendment rightsPolitical advertising
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This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 8, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Dec 8, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8463-8464)
Dec 8, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action December 8, 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the rights protected by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons and do not extend to for-profit corporations, limited liability companies, or other private entities established for business purposes or to promote business interests under the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state.

Declares that such corporate and other private entities are subject to regulation by the people through the legislative process so long as such regulations are consistent with the powers of Congress and the states and do not limit the freedom of the press.

Prohibits such corporate and other private entities from making contributions or expenditures in any election of any candidate for public office or the vote upon any ballot measure submitted to the people.

Grants Congress and the states the power to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures, including a candidate's own spending, and to authorize the establishment of political committees to receive, spend, and publicly disclose the sources of those contributions and expenditures.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HJRES 90 Identical bill Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the r…
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S.J. Res. 33: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natural persons by the Constitution of the United States, prohibit corporate spending in all elections, and affirm the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations and to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures.. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-SJRES-33/
MLA
"S.J. Res. 33: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natural persons by the Constitution of the United States, prohibit corporate spending in all elections, and affirm the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations and to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures.." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-SJRES-33/.
Bluebook (legal)
S.J. Res. 33, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-SJRES-33/.
Markdown link
[S.J. Res. 33: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to expressly exclude for-profit corporations from the rights given to natural persons by the Constitution of the United States, prohibit corporate spending in all elections, and affirm the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations and to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures.](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-SJRES-33/)
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