# Plain Language Summary: Constitutional Amendment on Campaign Money

This is a proposal to change the U.S. Constitution to give Congress and the states the power to limit how much money people and organizations can spend on elections. Right now, the Constitution protects spending on political campaigns as a form of free speech, which means there are significant limits on what Congress can do to regulate it. This amendment would essentially overturn that protection and allow lawmakers to set rules about campaign spending.

Here's what this means in practical terms: Currently, wealthy individuals, corporations, and groups can spend unlimited amounts of money on political ads and campaigns because courts have ruled that restricting this spending violates free speech rights. If this amendment passed, Congress could create new laws that cap how much money can be spent supporting or opposing candidates. States could also pass their own campaign spending limits. This could mean restrictions on things like TV ads, online advertising, direct mail, and donations to political groups that run campaigns.

The amendment would affect anyone involved in politics—candidates, donors, political organizations, and even ordinary citizens who want to spend money promoting their political views. Supporters believe this would reduce the influence of wealthy donors and big money in elections, making politicians more responsive to average voters. Critics worry it could limit free speech and make it harder for people to express their political views through spending. To become law, this amendment would need to be approved by two-thirds of both the House and Senate, and then ratified by three-fourths of the states—a very high bar that makes constitutional amendments rare.

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.

Shaheen, Jeanne

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections. 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.