LRB-1138/1
CMH:klm
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
June 2, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Hansen,
Ringhand, Johnson, Larson,
Miller, Risser, Vinehout and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives
Subeck, C. Taylor, Kolste, Anderson, Berceau, Billings, Brostoff,
Considine, Crowley, Genrich, Goyke, Hesselbein, Hintz, Mason, Ohnstad,
Pope, Riemer, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Stuck, Vruwink,
Wachs and Zamarripa. Referred to Committee on Financial Services,
Constitution and Federalism.
SJR54,1,1
1Relating to: an advisory referendum on an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
In the case of Citizens United v. F.E.C., the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that
corporations are “persons" for the purpose of political speech, thus allowing
corporations to make unlimited expenditures in political campaigns. The U.S.
Constitution grants Congress the power to propose amendments to the Constitution
that become effective when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.
Amendments can have the effect of overturning—in effect repealing—prior decisions
of the Supreme Court. This resolution places a question on the November 2018 ballot
to ask the people if Congress should propose an amendment to overturn
Citizens
United v. F.E.C.
SJR54,1,4
2Resolved by the
senate, the assembly concurring, That the following
3question be submitted, for advisory purposes only, to the voters of this state at the
4general election to be held in November 2018:
SJR54,2,2
5Question 1: “
Citizens United. The U.S. Supreme Court's decisions in
6Citizens United and related cases allow unlimited spending to influence local, state,
7and federal elections. To allow all Americans to have an equal say in our democracy,
1shall Wisconsin's congressional delegation support, and the Wisconsin legislature
2ratify, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution stating:
SJR54,2,43
1. Only human beings—not corporations, unions, nonprofit organizations, or
4similar associations—are endowed with constitutional rights; and
SJR54,2,65
2. Money is not speech, and therefore limiting political contributions and
6spending is not equivalent to restricting political speech?"
