# Plain Language Summary: Constitutional Amendment on Campaign Finance

This proposed constitutional amendment would give Congress and individual states the power to regulate how much money people and organizations can spend on political campaigns, and to create public financing systems where the government helps pay for elections. Right now, the Supreme Court has limited what Congress can do in this area, so this amendment would essentially overturn those court decisions and allow new campaign finance laws.

Currently, there are restrictions on direct donations to candidates, but the courts have said that spending money to support or oppose candidates—through independent groups, ads, and other means—is a form of free speech that's hard to regulate. This amendment would change that by explicitly allowing both the federal government and states to set limits on campaign spending and contributions. It would also let them create systems where candidates can receive public funding to run their campaigns, similar to how some states already do this.

The practical effect would be significant for how elections work. If passed, Congress could pass laws limiting how much wealthy individuals, corporations, and groups can spend on campaign ads and political activities. States could do the same within their borders. Some people see this as necessary to reduce the influence of big money in politics, while others worry it could limit free speech rights. Either way, it would represent a major shift in campaign finance law, requiring a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, plus approval from three-fourths of the states to become part of the Constitution.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the authority of Congress and the States to regulate contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections and to enact public financing systems for political campaigns.

Schiff, Adam B.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing Congress and the states to (1) regulate and impose reasonable viewpoint-neutral limitations on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections; and (2) regulate and enact public campaign financing systems, including those designed to restrict the influence of private wealth by offsetting the raising and spending of money by candidates and others with increased public funding. The amendment grants Congress and the states the power to implement and enforce this amendment by legislation. They are allowed to distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.