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Propose Amendments to the Constitution All the ideas and discussions
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Contributions only from individuals

Whereas Members of the House of Representatives, Senators, and the President and Vice-President are elected by the People:
1. No person except a Citizen of the United States entitled to vote in a federal election shall make any financial contribution, direct or indirect, to any person seeking election as a Member of the House of Representatives, as a Senator, or as the President or Vice-President, or to his or her campaign for such election.
2. The contribution of in excess of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars in any year to any person seeking election as a Member of the House of Representatives or as a Senator, or to his or her campaign for such election, is hereby prohibited. The contribution of in excess of Five Hundred Dollars in any year to any person seeking election as the President or Vice-President, or to his or her campaign for such election, is hereby prohibited.
3. During the last 60 days before an election to elect one or more Members of the House of Representatives, Senators, or the President and Vice-President, only persons seeking election to any such office, or the political party having nominated any such candidate, shall be entitled to expend, directly or indirectly, any funds in connection with the promotion or support of any person seeking election to any such office.
4. Congress shall have the power to increase, but not decrease, the amount of contributions permitted under Clause 2 of this Amendment; provided that the power granted under this Clause 4 shall be exercisable only in the year immediately following the year of every second Presidential election and such increase shall not be disproportionate to the rise in the cost of living in these United States over the period of time since the enactment of this Amendment or the last increase in the amount of authorized contributions.

Alan Kovacs , 23.09.2011, 16:07
Idea status: under consideration

Comments

mbs, 06.10.2011, 11:19
Respectfully, too many loopholes.

Contributions in excess of $500 need to outlawed with civil penalties for individuals that seek to circumvent the law and criminal penalties for corporations that seek to circumvent the law.

The public airwaves shall set aside free time for debate between candidates and citizen representatives shall monitors of the debates; no media employees, lobbyists, members of government shall be allowed to monitor debates of those seeking state of federal congressional seats or vice president or presidential office.

thank you.
mbs
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Benjamin Barber, 17.06.2012, 17:20
I like your idea for debates. Perhaps they could take place on a state by state basis. If we could ensure the citizenry access to information systems such as the internet. Then questions could be posed and henceforth voted on by members of said state where the debate would be taking place. Good though.
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Virginia, 14.10.2011, 15:37
Need to define who determines the cost of living index. Census Bureau?
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Ara Rubyan, 17.10.2011, 10:17
I like the idea of this amendment but it has too many specifics baked into it which will quickly make it "dated" and hasten it's irrelevancy.

A better solution would be to have a more broadly written amendment (see "End Legal Bribery of Congress" on the same page) and then address the specifics with actual legislation.

Also, it may take more than one amendment -- after this one -- to fully address the challenge of getting corporate money out of politics.
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edward machnik, 18.12.2011, 20:53
The Founding Fathers wrote in presice language with as few words as was necessary. This proposed Amendment seems to be of many. Besides being complicated, it seems totally unworkable.

I also object to giving Congress any more Powers. I want to limit them to what the Founding Fathers specified.
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bob buchanan, 19.12.2011, 03:49
Under paragraph 3 I would not be allowed to buy materials to place a sign supporting one of the candidates on my front lawn. Such a restriction is not acceptable.
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Benjamin Barber, 17.06.2012, 17:24
Sure but how significant is that compared to the potential for getting huge sources of private power which have compromised our democracy since it's inception out of the electoral system vs keeping your lawn signs and bumper stickers. Under which scenario are you actually enjoying the most freedom and which seems more significant. It's definitely a give and take, as in the case of most regulations, but I think your priorities are a bit backwards.
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