# What This Bill Actually Does

This is a proposal to change the U.S. Constitution itself to completely overhaul how political campaigns are funded. Right now, there's essentially no limit on how much money people, corporations, and groups can spend to influence elections. This bill would flip that on its head by setting strict caps on campaign spending and contributions, banning corporations from spending money on elections entirely, and having the government pay for most of a candidate's campaign costs.

Here's what would actually change if this passed. First, individuals could only give $100 to help any single candidate and $1,000 total per year toward all federal campaigns combined. That's a massive reduction from current rules. Second, corporations, unions, and other organizations created by law couldn't spend any money trying to influence federal elections—period. No more Super PACs or corporate donations. Third, Congress would have to set up a system where the government funds at least 80 percent of what candidates are allowed to spend on their campaigns. So if a candidate for Congress is allowed to spend $500,000, taxpayers would cover at least $400,000 of it. Any leftover campaign money would have to go back to the Treasury instead of candidates keeping it.

The bill also gives states the power to set their own limits on state and local elections, and it includes a teeth-gritting provision: if Congress doesn't pass the required funding laws within a year, members of Congress stop getting paid. The idea behind all this is that wealthy donors and corporations currently have outsized influence over who gets elected, and this would level the playing field so ordinary people's votes matter more. Of course, this would require changing the Constitution itself, which means it needs approval from two-thirds of Congress and then three-fourths of all state legislatures—a very high bar that makes passage extremely difficult.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to set limits on Federal campaign contributions and spending, prohibit corporate spending in the political process, require Congress to develop a system of public campaign financing for all Federal candidates who qualify for the ballot, and allow the States to set reasonable limits on campaign contributions and spending in State and local elections, and for other purposes.

McGovern, James P.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment regarding federal campaign contributions and spending. Specifically, the amendment <ul> <li>declares that the right of U.S. citizens to vote in elections in which campaign contributions and spending are subject to enforceable limits (as set forth in the amendment) shall not be abridged, </li> <li>sets forth limits on federal campaign contributions and spending, and </li> <li>prohibits corporations (or other entities created by law) from contributing or spending money for the purpose of influencing federal elections. </li> </ul> Not later than 60 days after ratification of the amendment, Congress shall enact legislation to <ul> <li>limit the amounts that candidates, their campaigns for federal office, and political parties may spend on such candidacies;</li> <li>provide public funding for all federal candidates who qualify for the ballot; </li> <li>require disposition to the Treasury of any unspent campaign funds after each election, without compensation; and</li> <li>enforce, with civil and criminal penalties, the limits and prohibitions of the amendment. </li> </ul> States shall have the power to implement and enforce reasonable regulations on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence state or local elections.