[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 108 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. J. RES. 108

  Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to 
   allow the limitation of contributions and expenditures respecting 
                               elections.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 3, 1998

 Mr. Moran of Virginia (for himself and Mr. LaTourette) introduced 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 to 
   allow the limitation of contributions and expenditures respecting 
                               elections.

Whereas the Congress seeks to ensure that all citizens, regardless of wealth, 
        have an equal voice in elections and an equal opportunity to run for 
        public office;
Whereas the Congress seeks to further the principle of ``one person, one vote'' 
        and to preserve the integrity of the democratic system;
Whereas the Congress seeks to limit corruption with respect to elections and the 
        appearance of such corruption; and
Whereas the Congress believes that the unlimited use of money to influence 
        elections is incompatible with the principles of free speech and equal 
        protection established under the first and fourteenth amendments of the 
        Constitution: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House 
concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an 
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be 
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 
ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States 
within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

                              ``Article --

    ``Section 1. The Congress shall have the power to set limits on 
contributions and expenditures respecting any Federal election or 
ballot measure.
    ``Sec. 2. Each State shall have the power to set limits on 
contributions and expenditures respecting all non-Federal elections and 
ballot measures in that State. For the purposes of this section the 
term `State' means each of the several States, the District of 
Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United 
States.''.
                                 <all>