This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would fundamentally restructure the relationship between artificial entities and the United States Constitution. The amendment's central objective is to confine constitutional rights and privileges exclusively to natural persons, thereby stripping corporations, limited liability companies, and other artificial entities of any constitutional protections they currently enjoy under existing judicial interpretation. Beyond redefining the scope of constitutional personhood, the resolution directly targets the role of money in elections by empowering all levels of government to regulate, limit, or prohibit political contributions and expenditures, and by explicitly prohibiting courts from treating the spending of money to influence elections as protected speech under the First Amendment. The amendment represents a direct legislative response to Supreme Court jurisprudence — most notably Citizens United v. FEC — that has treated corporate political spending as constitutionally protected expression. A carve-out preserves freedom of the press, ensuring that media organizations retain their First Amendment protections notwithstanding the broader restrictions on artificial entities.

Pramila Jayapal, Raul Grijalva, Nikema Williams, Paul Tonko, Jerrold Nadler, Jimmy Panetta, Henry Johnson, Lloyd Doggett, Rashida Tlaib, Delia Ramirez, Yvette Clarke, Eleanor Norton, Seth Magaziner, Nydia Velazquez, Seth Moulton, Joaquin Castro, Ro Khanna, Betty McCollum, Shontel Brown, Scott Peters, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Andrea Salinas, Rosa DeLauro, Salud Carbajal, Judy Chu, Juan Vargas, Maxwell Frost, Alma Adams, Summer Lee, Jesus Garcia, Yassamin Ansari, Emilia Sykes, Jill Tokuda, Danny Davis, Kevin Mullin, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Christopher Deluzio, Stephen Lynch, Greg Casar, Jared Huffman, Suzan DelBene, Frank Pallone, Becca Balint, Joseph Neguse, Mark DeSaulnier, Mike Thompson, Angela Craig, Sarah McBride, Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Al Green, Richard Neal, Kelly Morrison, Maxine Dexter, Eric Swalwell, George Latimer, Lateefah Simon, Marcy Kaptur, Teresa Fernandez, Terri Sewell, Zoe Lofgren, Maggie Goodlander, Valerie Foushee, Andre Carson, Robin Kelly, Adriano Espaillat, William Keating, Daniel Goldman, Sam Liccardo, Shri Thanedar, Mike Levin, Lori Trahan, Doris Matsui, Chellie Pingree, Greg Landsman, Mark Takano, Wesley Bell, Adam Smith, Adelita Grijalva, Melanie Stansbury, Nanette Barragan, Val Hoyle

What is the status of HJR54?

Introduced as of February 12, 2025.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would fundamentally restructure the relationship between artificial entities and the United States Constitution. The amendment's central objective is to confine constitutional rights and privileges exclusively to natural persons, thereby stripping corporations, limited liability companies, and other artificial entities of any constitutional protections they currently enjoy under existing judicial interpretation. Beyond redefining the scope of constitutional personhood, the resolution directly targets the role of money in elections by empowering all levels of government to regulate, limit, or prohibit political contributions and expenditures, and by explicitly prohibiting courts from treating the spending of money to influence elections as protected speech under the First Amendment. The amendment represents a direct legislative response to Supreme Court jurisprudence — most notably Citizens United v. FEC — that has treated corporate political spending as constitutionally protected expression. A carve-out preserves freedom of the press, ensuring that media organizations retain their First Amendment protections notwithstanding the broader restrictions on artificial entities.

Pramila Jayapal, Raul Grijalva, Nikema Williams, Paul Tonko, Jerrold Nadler, Jimmy Panetta, Henry Johnson, Lloyd Doggett, Rashida Tlaib, Delia Ramirez, Yvette Clarke, Eleanor Norton, Seth Magaziner, Nydia Velazquez, Seth Moulton, Joaquin Castro, Ro Khanna, Betty McCollum, Shontel Brown, Scott Peters, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Andrea Salinas, Rosa DeLauro, Salud Carbajal, Judy Chu, Juan Vargas, Maxwell Frost, Alma Adams, Summer Lee, Jesus Garcia, Yassamin Ansari, Emilia Sykes, Jill Tokuda, Danny Davis, Kevin Mullin, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Christopher Deluzio, Stephen Lynch, Greg Casar, Jared Huffman, Suzan DelBene, Frank Pallone, Becca Balint, Joseph Neguse, Mark DeSaulnier, Mike Thompson, Angela Craig, Sarah McBride, Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Al Green, Richard Neal, Kelly Morrison, Maxine Dexter, Eric Swalwell, George Latimer, Lateefah Simon, Marcy Kaptur, Teresa Fernandez, Terri Sewell, Zoe Lofgren, Maggie Goodlander, Valerie Foushee, Andre Carson, Robin Kelly, Adriano Espaillat, William Keating, Daniel Goldman, Sam Liccardo, Shri Thanedar, Mike Levin, Lori Trahan, Doris Matsui, Chellie Pingree, Greg Landsman, Mark Takano, Wesley Bell, Adam Smith, Adelita Grijalva, Melanie Stansbury, Nanette Barragan, Val Hoyle

What is the status of HJR54?

Introduced as of February 12, 2025.

HJR54 U.S. House: Proposing an amendment to the…

Introduced

Introduced in House · February 13, 2025

February 12, 2025

Ms. Jayapal (for herself, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Norton, Mr. Magaziner, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Khanna, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Brown, Mr. Peters, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Salinas, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Chu, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Frost, Ms. Adams, and Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania) submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only.

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“section 1. The rights and privileges protected and extended by the Constitution of the United States are the rights and privileges of natural persons only. An artificial entity, such as a corporation, limited liability company, or other entity, established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under the Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privileges of an artificial entity shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable.

Introduced

Introduced in House · February 13, 2025

February 12, 2025

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only.

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Introduced

Introduced in House · February 13, 2025

February 12, 2025

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only.

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Introduced

Introduced in House · February 13, 2025

February 12, 2025

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only.

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H.J.Res.54

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H.J.Res.54

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H.J.Res.54

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H.J.Res.54

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