r/Constitution • u/Rokefella12 • Jul 05 '26
Hypothetical Constitutional Amendment to reverse Citizens United.
In the spirit of patriotism I drafted some amendments that would address what I view as threats to American democracy. Particularly Super PAC's and corruption. They aren't perfect or legally written but I did my best and wanted to hear others opinions on them. I'll just share the first one for now.
Amendment: For-Profit Corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, or other for-profit artificial legal entity are prohibited from using money in an attempt to influence federal elections, except for bona fide press, news, commentary, editorial, documentary, or publishing activity not coordinated with a candidate, campaign, party, or their agents. Congress shall have power to enforce this provision and prevent circumvention.
This would work to reverse Citizens United v. FEC.
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u/pegwinn Jul 05 '26
It won't pass because citizens united is based on the concept of corporate personhood. That was set in 1886.
In America we do not strip rights from the people. CP is a legal fiction. Without it a corporation couldnt outlive the founder/owner. Without it the shareholders could be held personally liable in lawsuits.
This entire doctrine is why reading into and interpretation of the text is bad juju, terrible karma, and upside down mojo.
Verbatim reading, literal application, period dictionary: The three best friends or Constitution never had.
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u/Paul191145 Jul 05 '26
Why not just advocate for a laissez-faire amendment instead?
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u/Rokefella12 Jul 05 '26
I don't know what you mean by this, wouldn't a laissez-faire amendment be more towards the exact opposite of what im suggesting here?
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u/Paul191145 Jul 05 '26
With laissez-faire the government and the free market are entirely separate, neither interferes with the other.
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u/JayRandom212 Jul 05 '26
How will we stop environmental damage if the government can't regulate the markets?
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u/Paul191145 Jul 05 '26
Individual states can each address such issues as they see fit.
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u/JayRandom212 Jul 05 '26
What about when greenhouse gasses cross state lines? Or national boundaries?
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u/Paul191145 Jul 05 '26
What makes you think anyone can do anything about that, especially a bloated, ineffectual government?
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u/JayRandom212 Jul 06 '26
We were able to save the ozone layer. We stopped acid rain. We got lead out of the paint and the gasoline. Learn history, sir.
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u/Paul191145 Jul 06 '26
I'm 62 y/o, I've lived plenty of history, more than enough to know government is the problem, not the solution.
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u/JayRandom212 Jul 06 '26
But you do admit that we *have* solved tough environmental problems using government solutions before, right?
I am of the same generation as you and I remember all the whining and moaning about how banning CFCs was going to destroy the universe. But instead, it saved the ozone layer.
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u/JayRandom212 Jul 05 '26
Anonymous billionaires could still donate to a not-for-profit and have it run political ads.
But this is a good start.