The proposed Democracy For All amendment is a concise three-sentence text that takes about 30 seconds to read. However, when it is passed, its impact on American democracy will be hugely significant. The amendment is designed to promote democratic self-government and political equality, safeguard the integrity of government and the electoral process, and empower Congress and the states to regulate and limit the influence of money in elections. Let's take a closer look at each of the three sentences and analyze the meaning of their phrases to better understand the amendment's intent and purpose.
Now, let's dive into the text of the proposed amendment itself. Each of the sentences is presented in boldface followed by a discussion of its meaning:
Section 1: To advance democratic self-government and political equality, and to protect the integrity of government and the electoral process, Congress and the States may regulate and set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections.
The first sentence establishes the fundamental objectives of the proposed amendment. It emphasizes the importance of democratic self-government and political equality, while also highlighting the need to preserve the integrity of government and the electoral process. The sentence further states that Congress and the States have the power to regulate and limit the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections. This clause aims to curb the influence of money on politics and to ensure a fair electoral process where everyone has an equal opportunity to participate.
Section 2: Congress and the States shall have power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation, and may distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.
The second sentence outlines the mechanism through which the amendment will be enforced. It grants Congress and the states the power to implement and enforce the article through appropriate legislation. The clause further states that Congress and the states can distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, and that Congress can prohibit such entities from spending money to influence elections. This provision is significant because it recognizes that corporations and other artificial entities should not have the same political rights as natural persons.
Section 3: Nothing in this article shall be construed to grant Congress or the States the power to abridge the freedom of the press.
The third and final sentence is a safeguard that explicitly prohibits Congress and the states from abridging the freedom of the press. This clause recognizes the vital role of the press in informing the public and promoting a robust democracy. It ensures that the amendment will not be used as a tool to suppress the freedom of the press or limit its ability to report on the electoral process.
The actual text, these three sentences, clearly express the intent and purpose of the Democracy For All amendment: to promote democratic self-government, safeguard the integrity of government and the electoral process, and curb the influence of money on politics.
