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HJRES 48 117th Congress House

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.

Introduced: May 20, 2021 Introduced by: Jayapal, Pramila Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Constitution and constitutional amendmentsCorporate finance and managementElections, voting, political campaign regulationFirst Amendment rightsPolitical advertising
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
May 20, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 20, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 1, 2022

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment providing that the rights protected by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, shall have no rights under the Constitution and are subject to regulation.

The amendment requires federal, state, and local government to (1) regulate, limit, or prohibit election contributions and expenditures, including a candidate's own contributions and expenditures; and (2) require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed.

The judiciary is prohibited from construing the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment, and the amendment shall not be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 84
D
Sewell, Terri A.
Alabama · Sep 9, 2022
D
Williams, Nikema
Georgia · Jun 3, 2022
D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · May 16, 2022
Cárdenas, Tony
· Apr 14, 2022
Bowman, Jamaal
· Mar 16, 2022
D
Garamendi, John
California · Mar 7, 2022
Lowenthal, Alan
· Mar 7, 2022
D
Bera, Ami
California · Feb 28, 2022
D
Titus, Dina
Nevada · Dec 13, 2021
LANGEVIN, JAMES
· Nov 30, 2021
Jones, Mondaire
· Nov 23, 2021
D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Nov 5, 2021
Kirkpatrick, Ann
· Oct 25, 2021
D
Lieu, Ted
California · Oct 25, 2021
D
Meng, Grace
New York · Oct 12, 2021
D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Oct 12, 2021
D
Adams, Alma S.
North Carolina · Sep 29, 2021
D
Levin, Mike
California · Sep 29, 2021
D
Schrier, Kim
Washington · Sep 21, 2021
Bass, Karen
· Sep 10, 2021
D
Castro, Joaquin
Texas · Aug 20, 2021
D
Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria
New York · Aug 13, 2021
D
Vargas, Juan
California · Aug 10, 2021
D
Keating, William R.
Massachusetts · Aug 3, 2021
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Jul 9, 2021
D
DeSaulnier, Mark
California · Jun 30, 2021
D
Leger Fernandez, Teresa
New Mexico · Jun 30, 2021
D
Evans, Dwight
Pennsylvania · Jun 23, 2021
D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Jun 15, 2021
Lawson, Al
· Jun 15, 2021
D
Peters, Scott H.
California · Jun 15, 2021
D
Waters, Maxine
California · Jun 15, 2021
D
Doggett, Lloyd
Texas · Jun 8, 2021
D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Jun 8, 2021
D
Panetta, Jimmy
California · May 28, 2021
D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · May 20, 2021
D
Beyer, Donald S.
Virginia · May 20, 2021
D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · May 20, 2021
D
Boyle, Brendan F.
Pennsylvania · May 20, 2021
Bush, Cori
· May 20, 2021
D
Carbajal, Salud O.
California · May 20, 2021
Cartwright, Matt
· May 20, 2021
D
Chu, Judy
California · May 20, 2021
Cicilline, David
· May 20, 2021
D
Craig, Angie
Minnesota · May 20, 2021
D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · May 20, 2021
DEFAZIO, PETER
· May 20, 2021
D
DelBene, Suzan K.
Washington · May 20, 2021
Eshoo, Anna
· May 20, 2021
D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · May 20, 2021
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Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). 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.. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-48/
MLA
"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.." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-48/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 48, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-48/.
Markdown link
[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.](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HJRES-48/)
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