[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 47 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 47

  Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to 
                        limit campaign spending.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 10, 1997

Mr. Gephardt (for himself, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. 
Moran of Virginia, Mr. Capps, and Mr. Gordon) 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 
                        limit campaign spending.

    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. To promote the fair and effective functioning of the 
democratic process, Congress, with respect to elections of Federal 
office, and States, for all other elections, including initiatives and 
referenda, may adopt reasonable regulations of funds expended, 
including contributions, to influence the outcome of elections, 
provided that such regulations do not impair the right of the public to 
a full and free discussion of all issues and do not prevent any 
candidate for elected office from amassing the resources necessary for 
effective advocacy;
    ``Section 2. Such governments may reasonably define which 
expenditures are deemed to be for the purpose of influencing elections, 
so long as such definition does not interfere with the right of the 
people fully to debate issues;
    ``Section 3. No regulation adopted under this authority may 
regulate the content of any expression of opinion or communication.''.
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