113th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. J. RES. 19


Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating
to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.


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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 18, 2013

Mr. Udall of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Harkin, Mr.
Schumer, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Tester, Mrs. Boxer, Mr.
Coons, Mr. King, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Franken, Ms. Klobuchar, and
Mr. Udall of Colorado) introduced the following joint resolution; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect
elections.

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 the following article is proposed as an
amendment to the Constitution 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. To advance the fundamental principle of political
equality for all, and to protect the integrity of the legislative and
electoral processes, Congress shall have power to regulate the raising
and spending of money and in-kind equivalents with respect to Federal
elections, including through setting limits on--

``(1) the amount of contributions to candidates for
nomination for election to, or for election to, Federal office;
and

``(2) the amount of funds that may be spent by, in support
of, or in opposition to such candidates.

``SECTION 2. To advance the fundamental principle of political
equality for all, and to protect the integrity of the legislative and
electoral processes, each State shall have power to regulate the
raising and spending of money and in-kind equivalents with respect to
State elections, including through setting limits on--

``(1) the amount of contributions to candidates for
nomination for election to, or for election to, State office;
and

``(2) the amount of funds that may be spent by, in support
of, or in opposition to such candidates.

``SECTION 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to grant
Congress the power to abridge the freedom of the press.

``SECTION 4. Congress and the States shall have power to implement
and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''.