Move to Amend’s primary goal has always been to end the influence of money in politics and corporate constitutional rights through a constitutional amendment based on the conviction that only change achieved through an amendment is lasting.

Yet, Move to Amend has never opposed strategic steppingstones. These are more immediately attainable proposals that expand democratic possibilities, especially those that directly reduce the power of corporate entities from hijacking the political process. Reforms, however, should always be put in context: that they are mere laws that can be legally reversed and can’t overturn the constitutional doctrines that a corporation is a person and political money equals free speech.

Many Move to Amend supporters have asked what they can do if they’ve already worked with others to pass a ballot initiative or municipal resolution, secured organizational endorsements, circulated the MTA petition and organized educational programs. While there’s ALWAYS more of most of these that can be achieved, statutes restraining corporations, particularly at the state level, offer several differing strategic opportunities by providing:

• More immediate, tangible opportunities to work in solidarity with other organizations promoting just and/or sustainable alternatives that could be more attainable in the short term.
• Opportunities to deepen or develop relationships with supportive state legislators. These legislators often become members of Congress.
• Provide Move to Amend supporters with additional educational, advocacy and organizing tools – including opportunities to attract new supporters, develop new leaders and attract more funding.

What follows are four proposed statutory reforms – meant to be proposed at the state level. Described for each are points or proposed text that can be used to develop state-specific draft proposals. The information comes from historical or existing statutes or court decisions (mostly at the state level) or have been proposed by democracy organizations.

1. Corporate Three Strikes
2. Charter Revocation/Quo Warranto
3. Require Shareholder Vote Before Political Donations Can Be Made With Corporate Funds
4. Prohibiting Foreign-influenced Corporations from Spending Money in Elections

Four Proposed Statutory Reforms in Summary (click on headings below to learn more)

• Corporate Three Strikes 

A corporation that commits three or more major violations of the law loses its corporate charter or license or to transact intrastate business in your state.

• Charter Revocation/Quo Warranto

The state will dissolve a corporate charter or license for violating the terms of its charter. 

• Require Shareholder Vote Before Political Donations Made with Corporate Funds

Political donations from a corporation can only be made following a majority vote of voting shares by corporate stockholders. 

• Prohibiting foreign-influenced corporations from spending money in elections

Bans companies with percentage of ownership stake by a single foreign owner or multiple foreign owners from making political contributions in state and local elections.

   Getting Started               

• Every state has its own set of rules for considering and enacting bills.
  
  
• Referencing the basic rules that guide the movement of bills through the legislative process will help you to understand why the bill has reached its current progress, and its likelihood of future success.

  Learn How Your State Works:  Legislative Process - StateScape

Here's what you'll need to do (Detailed guides and templates for each step linked below)

                 STEP 1 – SIGN UP FIRST!

                 STEP 2 – Determine what reform to pursue

                 STEP 3 – Identify potential sponsors

                 STEP 4 – Schedule the Meeting

                 STEP 5 – Prepare for the Meeting

                 STEP 6 – Hold the Meeting

                 Make a clear ask: Will you sponsor/ co-sponsor the legislative reform?

                 STEP 7 – Follow up!

                 STEP 8 – Celebrate or Escalate!

Sign up below resources, then get started!

Campaign Launch Webinar

Organizing the Campaign / Campaign Resources

***Click on each task for related templates and instructions.

STEP 1 -- SIGN UP FIRST!

• Sign up to organize or participate in the campaign to promote pro-democratic/anti-corporate statutory reforms.

STEP 2 -- Determine what reform to pursue 

• Ask what reform the group(s) you currently work with or wish to work with believes would help further the issues they're working on. Potential groups to approach include local affiliates of MTA endorsing organizations. (Remember power in numbers) 
   
• Once a reform is collectively identified between you/your Affiliate or group and other organization(s), recruit your friends and neighbors through social media, email or text messaging to join the campaign, which will include introducing legislation at the state level. (Who do you know? Who do they know? Who can lend credibility to your effort? What other groups do members of your MTA affiliate belong to?
  
  
• Send an email blast to the Move to Amend list asking people to sign up for the Campaign.

STEP 3 -- Identify potential state legislators to sponsor and/or cosponsor.

•  What Legislation have they introduced or support? What state representatives sit on key committees?
  
  
• Template for creating bios on prospective Sponsors/Cosponsors

STEP 4 -- Schedule the Meeting

• Contact your Legislator's office and ask for a Zoom meeting

STEP 5 -- Prepare for the Meeting

• Watch How to Promote Pro-Democratic/Anti-Corporate Power Statutory Reforms.
  
  
• Review background information.
  
  
• Want a Move to Amend national organizer to join you for the meeting? (email request to [email protected])
  
  
• Hold a prep call to review meeting roles and make sure you are each clear on what you'll say and how to make sure to get to the ask!
  
  
• Send a blast to constituents on the Move to Amend list a few days in advance to ensure the office gets calls to put the [Pro-Democratic/Anti-Corporate Power Statutory Reform] on their radar before your meeting

STEP 6 -- Hold the Meeting

• Follow an agenda because you'll only have 20-30 minutes
  
  
• Take good notes, keep track of any questions you get that you can't answer on the spot and commit to following up with the answer(s)
  
  
• Make a clear ask: Will you co-sponsor the #Pro-Democratic/Anti-Corporate Power Statutory Reforms?

STEP 7 -- Follow up!

• Send a thank-you email with any info requests to the staffer(s) and mail a thank you note to the legislator
  
  
• Send email blasts to constituents on the Move to Amend list asking them to call each week to keep the pressure up
  
  
• In 2 weeks send an email and/or call the office and ask for a response. Be persistent! Keep trying every 2-3 days until you get a response

STEP 8 -- Celebrate or Escalate!

• Often this is all it takes, especially for state legislators who agree with our goals. But if you don't have a commitment yet it is time to escalate your tactics. We will work with you to determine how to escalate appropriately, from stepping up the phone calls, to organizing a letter-writing campaign, to car parades around their office, to delivering petitions to their home, and more!

Ready to Sign Up?