Hillary Scholten (D-MI)
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to regulate campaign contributions for Federal elections.
A Democratic resolution with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding campaign contributions for federal elections. If ratified by three-fourths of the states within seven years, it gives Congress the power to prohibit, limit, and regulate campaign funds and media advertisement expenditures for federal office candidates. The text requires any exercise of this power by Congress to apply equally and uniformly to all individual U.S. citizens and to all associations of U.S. citizens. Similarly, the resolution gives individual states the power to regulate contributions and expenditures for state public office elections and plebiscites, with the same requirement that rules apply equally and uniformly. Additionally, the resolution explicitly bans non-citizens, foreign governments, and their agents from contributing funds or trying to influence U.S. elections or plebiscites. Finally, it limits these powers to content-neutral regulations and gives Congress the power to enforce the article.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +8
Does this limit or expose the money behind campaigns?
The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment empowering Congress and states to limit and regulate campaign contributions and expenditures.
- Scored +7
Does this make elections run better?
The bill protects elections by banning foreign interference and campaign contributions from non-citizens and foreign governments.
- Scored +6
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill grants Congress explicit new constitutional power to prohibit, limit, and regulate campaign contributions and election-related media expenditures.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?
Allowing the government to limit political expenditures and media advertisements places a burden on political expression.
- Scored -5
Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life?
The bill grants Congress and the states the power to limit and regulate expenditures used to support or purchase media advertisements intended to influence elections, restricting political spending as speech.
- Scored -4
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill explicitly prohibits non-citizens from contributing funds or expending funds to influence U.S. elections or plebiscites.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Ban on Foreign Interference: Under Section 3, the bill states that non-citizens, associations of non-citizens, foreign governments, or their agents may not contribute funds or donate in-kind equivalents to candidates, or expend funds to influence U.S. elections or plebiscites. This is a positive outcome because it explicitly prevents foreign entities from injecting money into American elections.
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Equal Application to Citizens: Under Section 1, whenever Congress exercises its power to regulate funds, it must apply equally and uniformly to all individual persons recognized as U.S. citizens and to all associations of U.S. citizens. This is a positive protection ensuring that the rules are applied fairly across the board without playing favorites among citizens or citizen groups.
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Equal Application by States: Under Section 2, whenever a state exercises its power to regulate campaign funds, it must apply equally and uniformly to all individual citizens of the state and all associations of citizens of the state. This benefits everyday people by ensuring fair and equal application of state-level election rules.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on Political Speech and Spending: Under Section 1 and Section 2, Congress and the states are given the power to prohibit, limit, and otherwise regulate the contribution of funds, donations, and expenditures used to support or purchase media advertisements intended to influence federal and state elections. This could be considered a burden because it allows the government to place limits on how individuals and associations spend money to voice their political views through media advertisements.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this limit or expose the money behind campaigns? — The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment empowering Congress and states to limit and regulate campaign contributions and expenditures. Does this make elections run better? — The bill protects elections by banning foreign interference and campaign contributions from non-citizens and foreign governments. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill grants individual states explicit power to regulate campaign contributions and expenditures for state public office elections and plebiscites. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants Congress explicit new constitutional power to prohibit, limit, and regulate campaign contributions and election-related media expenditures. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The resolution requires that any campaign finance regulations enacted by Congress or states must apply equally and uniformly. Does this protect the individual right to speak freely? — Allowing the government to limit political expenditures and media advertisements places a burden on political expression.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill explicitly prohibits non-citizens from contributing funds or expending funds to influence U.S. elections or plebiscites.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill explicitly bans non-citizens, foreign governments, and their agents from contributing funds or trying to influence U.S. elections. Does this protect what people are allowed to say in public life? — The bill grants Congress and the states the power to limit and regulate expenditures used to support or purchase media advertisements intended to influence elections, restricting political spending as speech.
- 11/2/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House