HF 3022

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 04/23/2012 10:56am

A joint resolution
applying to Congress to call a constitutional convention to propose an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States to clarify that the rights protected under the
United States Constitution are the rights of natural persons and not the rights of
artificial entities and to clarify that campaign contributions to influence elections are
not speech under the First Amendment.

WHEREAS, under Article V of the Constitution of the United States, the Congress, on
the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for
proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that shall be valid to all intents
and purposes if ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions
in three-fourths thereof, as one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by Congress;
NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it applies to the
Congress of the United States to call a constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing an
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, to read as follows:

"(1) The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural
persons only.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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.

(5) Federal, State, and local government shall require that any permissible contributions
and expenditures be publicly disclosed.

(6) The judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to influence elections to be
speech under the 1st Amendment.

(7) Nothing contained in this amendment shall be construed to abridge the freedom of
the press."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of Minnesota is directed to
prepare copies of this resolution and transmit them to the Speaker and the Clerk of the United
States House of Representatives, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the
United States Secretary of State, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.