Proposition 49: Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Ruling Question

The California Proposition 49, the Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Ruling Question, will not be on the November 4, 2014 ballot in California as an advisory question. The measure would have asked voters whether the United States Congress shall propose, and the California Legislature ratify, an amendment or amendments to the United States Constitution to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and other related judicial rulings.

The suggested amendment would allow for the full regulation or limitation of campaign contributions and spending for the purpose of ensuring that all citizens, regardless of wealth, may express their views to one another and to make clear that the rights protected by the United States Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. If passed by voters, the California Secretary of State would be required to communicate the results of the measure to the U.S. Congress. There will be no direct fiscal effect on state or local governments if passed.

The biggest arguments for the passage of this initiative lie in the fact that the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights are intended to protect the rights of individual human beings. Corporations, however, are not mentioned in the Constitution, and the people have never granted constitution rights to corporations, nor have we agreed that corporations have authority that exceeds the authority of “We the People.” The corrosive effects of immense wealth that has accumulated as a result of corporations in reality have little or no correlation to the public’s support for the corporation’s political ideas. Corporations also have special advantages not enjoyed by individuals such as limited liability, perpetual life, and favorable treatment of the accumulation and distribution of assets that allow them to spend huge sums on campaign messages that have little or no correlation with the beliefs held by natural persons.

Read more about the amendment by visiting: http://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_49,_Amendment_to_Overturn_Citizens_United_Ruling_Question_(2014)