How Move to Amend Stands Out from the Crowd

While it is exciting to see the flurry of momentum and energy that is finally getting some traction in a small segment of Congress, Move to Amend is very clear that it is important that we not let our goals be diluted by our legislators in Washington, even by those who mean well and want to see reform in our political system.

Passing an amendment will be a tough job, so the language must be commensurate with the effort needed to win, and the amendment must be strong and clear enough to end corporate rule - there's no room here for half solutions or ambiguity.

It is our belief that we need to operate on the assumption that once an Amendment comes out of Congress we won't get another shot. So we MUST get it right!

With many competing proposals, it can be confusing to figure out what is what in terms of what the proposals will actually do. We have prepared a summary of each of the amendments proposed, including what is missing from each one.

We also encourage you to check out our article, "How Corporate Constitutional Rights Harm You, Your Family, Your Community, Your Environment, and Your Democracy" to explain why we feel so strongly that half-way solutions cannot be accepted.

Click here to read Move to Amend's "We the People" Amendment proposal (House Joint Resolution 48) that will clearly establish that money is not speech, corporations are not people, and allows for no loopholes. Our amendment will put people in charge of our government, and corporations in their proper place.

Proposed Amendments (117th Congress)

• Move to Amend's Amendment Proposal introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA) (We the People Amendment) (H.J. Res. 48)
• "Democracy for All" Amendment Proposal
• Schiff Amendment Proposal
• Tester Amendment Proposal

"Democracy for All" Amendment Proposal 

• Introduced on January 4, 2021 in the House of Representative by Rep. Ted Deutch (FL) and in the Senate by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
• Read the text and explanation here: H.J. Res. 1 / S.J. Res 25
• Organizations involved: American Promise, Public Citizen, People for the American Way, Free Speech for People, Common Cause

What it does:

• Asserts that Congress and the States (a) may regulate and limit the amount for campaign contributions and expenditures and (b) may distinguish between natural persons and artificial entities when creating campaign finance legislation.

What’s missing:

• Does not end corporate constitutional rights under 1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendments
• Does not end political money equals protected speech under 1st Amendment

Side-by-Side Comparison: Move to Amend's We The People Amendment, (HJR 48) and the Democracy for All Amendment (HJR 1 / SJR 25) - 2 page handout

Schiff Amendment Proposal

• Introduced on March 24, 2022 in the Senate by Sen. Adam Schiff (CA)
• Read the text and explanation here: H.J.R. 80
• Organizations involved: ??

What it does:

• Asserts that Congress or the states have the right to impose reasonable limits on private campaign contributions or independent election expenditures or can enact systems of public campaign financing to offset campaign spending or independent expenditures

What’s missing:

• Does not end political money equals protected speech under 1st Amendment
• Does not end corporate constitutional rights under 1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendments

Tester Amendment Proposal

• Introduced on March 15, 2021 in the Senate by Sen. Jon Tester (MT)
• Read the text and explanation here: S.J. Res. 11
• Organizations involved: Free Speech for People

What it does:

• Asserts that corporations are not people

What’s missing:

• Does not address political money equals protected speech under 1st Amendment
• Does not address campaign spending 

Click here to read Move to Amend's proposed amendment that will clearly establish that money is not speech, a corporation is not a person, all corporations are subject to regulation, all campaign contributions will be disclosed and allows for no loopholes. Our amendment will put people in charge of our government, and corporations in their proper place.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANALYSIS OF 2019/2020 AMENDMENT PROPOSALS (116th Congress)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANALYSIS OF 2017/2018 AMENDMENT PROPOSALS (115th Congress)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANALYSIS OF 2015/2016 AMENDMENT PROPOSALS (114th Congress)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANALYSIS OF 2013/2014 AMENDMENT PROPOSALS (113th Congress)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANALYSIS OF 2011/2012 AMENDMENT PROPOSALS (112th Congress)