KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Wyoming

HJ0002 • 2024

Political expenditures.

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to propose a constitutional amendment identifying the source of political contributions as specified.

Labor
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Corporations
Last action
2024-02-13
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2024

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how the amendment would be enforced or what specific limits it would impose.

Request for Constitutional Amendment on Political Contributions

This resolution asks Congress to propose a constitutional amendment that would require public identification of political contributions and limit or prohibit non-natural person entities from making campaign donations.

What This Bill Does

  • Asks the U.S. Congress to create an amendment to the Constitution.
  • The proposed amendment would make it necessary for people to know who is giving money in politics.
  • It would stop certain groups, like corporations and unions, from spending too much on political campaigns.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The U.S. Congress
  • Political candidates and campaigns
  • Corporations and other non-natural person entities

Terms To Know

Constitutional amendment
A change to the Constitution that needs approval from a majority of states.
Non-natural person entity
An organization like a corporation or union, not an individual human being.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution did not pass and was not introduced in the legislature.
  • It is unclear how many states would support such an amendment.
  • Details about enforcement and specific limits are not provided.

Bill History

  1. 2024-02-13 House

    H Failed Introduction 35-26-1-0-0

  2. 2024-01-24 House

    H Received for Introduction

  3. 2024-01-03 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
24LSO-0093
2024
State of Wyoming
24LSO-0093
Numbered
2.0

House JOINT RESOLUTION NO. HJ0002

Political expenditures.

Sponsored by: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to propose a constitutional amendment identifying the source of political contributions as specified.

WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that Congress and the states lack authority to ban independent corporate expenditures to political campaigns for public office, relying on the concept that the spending of money to elect a candidate is protected speech; and

WHEREAS, this United States Supreme Court precedent has allowed the creation of super political action committees in campaigns for public office, which super political action committees have made unprecedented campaign expenditures whose source cannot be readily traced to natural persons; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Wyoming has grave concerns that corporations, unions and organizations have abilities not enjoyed by natural persons including perpetual life and enhanced accumulation of assets, which may enable these entities to financially overwhelm individual natural persons in the political process; and

WHEREAS, Congress, state legislatures and local legislative bodies should have the authority to require the identification of campaign expenditures and to limit expenditures by entities that are not natural persons; and

WHEREAS, a constitutional amendment would control over United States Supreme Court precedent interpreting the United States Constitution.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

That the Legislature of the State of Wyoming respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to propose and send to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution to allow the public identification of the source of political contributions or expenditures for or against any candidate and to limit or prohibit corporations and other entities that are not natural persons from making campaign contributions for or against any candidate. Political expenditures by organizations that are comprised of natural persons and that publicly identify their members and donors should not be restricted.

Section 2.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

1

HJ0002