MA S379

Bill

For a United States constitutional amendment and amendments convention

Introduced
01/23/2017

In Committee
12/26/2017

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2018

Introduced Session

190th General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation for a United States constitutional amendment and amendments convention. Election Laws.

AI Summary

This bill calls for a United States constitutional amendment convention. The key provisions are: 1) The bill requests Congress to propose an amendment that would affirm that the rights protected by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons (human individuals) only, and that Congress and the states can place limits on political contributions and expenditures to ensure all citizens have access to the political process, as the spending of money to influence elections is not protected free speech under the First Amendment. 2) If Congress does not propose this amendment within 6 months, the bill constitutes a petition by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Congress to call a limited constitutional convention for the exclusive purpose of proposing amendments addressing concerns raised by the Supreme Court's rulings in Citizens United v. FEC and McCutcheon v. FEC, which removed restrictions on independent political spending. 3) The convention would be limited in scope to these concerns, and the delegates would be comprised equally of individuals currently elected to state and local office, or selected by election in each Congressional district, with federal office holders prohibited from serving as delegates.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

Sponsors (45)

Jim Arciero (D), Cory Atkins (D), Mike Barrett (D), Jennifer Benson (D), Joseph Boncore (D), Thomas Calter (D), Mike Connolly (D), Brendan Crighton (D), Julian Cyr (D), Marjorie Decker (D), Sal DiDomenico (D), Diana Dizoglio (D), Kenneth Donnelly (D), Eileen Donoghue (D), Carolyn Dykema (D), Jamie Eldridge (D), Jennifer Flanagan (D), Cindy Friedman (D), Sean Garballey (D), Carmine Gentile (D), Anne Gobi (D), Natalie Higgins (D), Kate Hogan (D), Pat Jehlen (D), John Keenan (D), Kay Khan (D), Barbara L'Italien (D), John Lawn (D), Eric Lesser (D), Jack Lewis (D), Jason Lewis (D), Joan Lovely (D), Elizabeth Malia (D), James Miceli (D), Mark Montigny (D), Mike Moore (D), Kathleen O'Connor Ives (D), Mike Rush (D), Paul Schmid (D), Karen Spilka (D), Tom Stanley (D), James Timilty (D), Walter Timilty (D), José Tosado (D), Steve Ultrino (D),

Last Action

Accompanied a new draft, see S2243 (on 01/18/2018)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S379

(12 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S379
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S379.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1929	Resolutions calling on Article V of the United States Constitution for the convening of a convention of the states	Accompanied a study order, see H4272	Similar To
H4115	Relative to establishing a citizens commission concerning a constitutional amendment to secure government of the people	Approved by the People at the state election, Chapter 322 of the Acts of 2018	Similar To
H59	Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution for an independent redistricting commission	No further action	Similar To
H60	Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to a vacancy in the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor	Placed on file	Similar To
H61	Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to the term of judicial officers	No further action	Similar To
H63	Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution to declare that corporations are not people, money is not speech	No further action	Similar To
H64	Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution to define the succession plan for a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor	No further action	Similar To
H65	Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to the subject matter of initiative petitions	No further action	Similar To
S1775	Relative to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center	Accompanied a study order, see H4481	Similar To
S1816	Relative to the expansion of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center	Accompanied a study order, see H4481	Similar To
S2243	Resolutions for a United States constitutional amendment and amendments convention	No further action taken	Replaced by
S401	Relative to the application for a convention of the states under article v of the constitution of the United States	Accompanied a study order, see S2399	Similar To

Bill > S379

MA S379

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (45)

Last Action

Official Document

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