Bill > H3842

This bill is a resolution calling for a United States constitutional amendment to address concerns about campaign finance and corporate influence in elections. Specifically, the bill seeks to affirm that constitutional rights apply only to natural persons (humans), not corporations, and to place limits on political contributions and expenditures. If Congress does not propose such an amendment within 6 months, Massachusetts is petitioning for an Article V convention to propose amendments, with strict limitations on the convention's scope. The bill references the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which removed restrictions on independent political spending, as a key motivation. The resolution requires 33 other states to submit similar petitions before Congress would be compelled to call the convention, and even then, the convention would be limited to addressing campaign finance and corporate rights issues. The proposed amendment would explicitly state that money spent to influence elections is not protected as free speech, and that political contributions can be regulated to ensure all citizens have meaningful access to the political process. The bill aims to restore what the legislators see as the original intent of the Constitution: that government should be "dependent on the people alone" rather than powerful economic interests.

Military Affairs and Security

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3842