Move to Amend unveals corporate personhood amendment

Submitted by DavidDelk on Thu, 11/24/2011 - 00:05

Move to Amend, the national advocacy group for end corporate personhood and making clear that money is not speech, has unveiled their proposed constitutional amendment. Simple, straightforward and containing no loopholes, unlike the various proposals which have been introduced in the US House and Senate recently by Sen. Udall/Merkley, Rep. Jim McGovern and Rep. Deutch. These proposed amendments address either only one issue or leave large loopholes. The Move to Amend language follows.

Amendment

Section 1. Corporations are not people and can be regulated.

The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities, established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable.

Section 2. Money is not speech and can be regulated. 

Federal, State and local government shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures, including a candidate’s own contributions and expenditures, for the purpose of influencing in any way the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot measure. Federal, State and local government shall require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed. The judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment.

Section 3. Nothing contained in this amendment shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.

Corporations are not People

Submitted by Fred Schwacke (not verified) on Sat, 11/26/2011 - 09:58.

There are many ways to defeat this attack on our freedoms; one is to demand corporations not enjoy the rights of "natural people". This is not a Conservative, Liberal, or Independent question; it is about preserving the American our forefathers fought so hard to create.

To effect change we have to go one piece at a time in unity, we have to identify the core issue and must all focus on it. The excessive power and influence of big corporates is that core. If we can rein in their unbelievable power & influence, everything else we need in order to regain the American dream becomes possible, and it all begins by passing a Constitutional Amendment that simply says "Corporations are not People".

So I signed a petition to The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate and President Barack Obama, which says:

"It is my belief that Corporations are not People, and that a Constitutional Amendment making that simple statement should be enacted."

Will you step up and help by signing the petition too? Click here to add your name:

http://signon.org/sign/corporations-are-not-3?source=s.fwd&r_by=166820

Rights of Groups

Submitted by Krist Novoselic (not verified) on Sun, 11/27/2011 - 12:36.

I agree that things are out of balance in our nation with corporate influence over government, but how will this amendment effect groups like unions? And what about, "and other entities"? What about an entity like PETA? So PETA will not have the freedom of speech with their animal rights protests?

Why do you want to give local government the ability to take away rights from a group?

What is the Impact on churches & other religious entities?

Submitted by Gavin Young (not verified) on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 21:50.

What impact does section one have on religious entities, such as of Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques, etc., as well as upon atheist and secular humanist organizations and charities. Will an exclusion for them be provided in Section 3, like the exclusion for the press?

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