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Undoing Citizens United: H.J.Res. 54 & the Montana Plan
Plain-language explainer with quick comparison and printable links.
H.J.Res. 54 — “We the People” Amendment (Federal)
What it is: A U.S. constitutional amendment (119th Congress) stating that constitutional rights belong to natural persons (human beings) only, and that governments may regulate, limit, or prohibit money in elections — including candidate self-funding — with disclosure rules.
What it does: Targets the legal foundations of Citizens United and related cases by clarifying that money is not speech and corporations are not people for constitutional-rights claims in elections.
Why it matters: Would give Congress and the states clear power to curb outsized political spending and restore political equality.
Status: Introduced; must pass both chambers by 2/3 and be ratified by 3/4 of states.
The “Montana Plan” — State-Level Strategy
What it is: A Montana constitutional initiative (a “transparent election” effort) to use state control over corporate charters to limit corporate election activity and dark money inside the state.
What it does: Declares artificial entities (corporations, LLCs, certain nonprofits, foreign entities) have only the powers the state grants — and that spending in elections/ballot issues is not among those powers unless explicitly authorized. Provides enforcement via disclosure and potential forfeiture of privileges for violators.
Why it matters: Offers a state-level workaround that targets corporate powers (which states control) rather than First-Amendment doctrine, creating a model other states could adapt.
Status: Initiative text released; pursuing ballot qualification.
Quick Comparison
| Item | Level | Focus | Main Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.J.Res. 54 | Federal (U.S. Constitution) | Corporate personhood & “money = speech” | Constitutional amendment enabling strong regulation of political spending |
| Montana Plan | State (Montana Constitution / charters) | Corporate powers within the state | Limits corporate election activity via charter authority + disclosure & enforcement |
How You Can Help
- Educate & share: Post this summary and the links below.
- Contact lawmakers: Urge support/co-sponsorship for H.J.Res. 54.
- State action: In Montana (and other states), support signature drives and transparent-election initiatives.
Printable References (copyable URLs)
- Congress.gov — H.J.Res. 54 text: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/54/text
- Jayapal press release (intro of H.J.Res. 54): https://jayapal.house.gov/2025/02/13/jayapal-introduces-constitutional-amendment-to-reverse-citizens-united-2/
- United for the People — Amendment efforts overview: https://united4thepeople.org/amendments/
- Daily Montanan — Proposed MT amendment to curb dark money: https://dailymontanan.com/2025/08/01/group-releases-text-of-proposed-montana-constitutional-amendment-to-curb-dark-money/
- Issue One — Montana ballot effort to undo CU: https://issueone.org/press/new-montana-ballot-measure-effort-to-undo-citizens-united/
- Harvard Law School Forum — Transparent Election Initiative: https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2025/08/07/transparent-election-initiative/
Tip: On phones, the table above scrolls horizontally. Use your browser’s print dialog for a clean printout.
Since money can buy propaganda (money can indeed be equivalent to free speech), I much prefer the Montana plan.
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