State Resolutions in Support of Amending the Constitution

State Resolutions in Support of Amending the Constitution

States Ready To Amend

Source https://wiuta.org/resources/states-ready-to-amend/

Thus far, the following states have called for an amendment of the U.S. Constitution:

  1. Hawaii (April 28, 2010)
  2. Maryland* (January 19, 2012)
  3. New Mexico (February 7, 2012) and again February 13, 2018
  4. Vermont (April 19, 2012) Call for Article V Convention (May 2, 2014)
  5. Rhode Island (May 30, 2012). Call for Article V Convention (June 17, 2016)
  6. California (July 5, 2012) Call for Article V Convention (June 23, 2014) Referendum (November 8, 2016)
  7. Massachusetts (July 31, 2012)
  8. Connecticut* (September 12, 2012)
  9. New Jersey (Oct. 18, 2012) Call for Article V Convention (Feb. 23, 2015)
  10. Montana (November 6, 2012)
  11. Colorado (November 6, 2012)
  12. West Virginia (April 10, 2013)
  13. Maine (April 30, 2013)
  14. Illinois (May 31, 2013) Call for Article V Convention (December 3, 2014)
  15. Delaware* (June 10, 2013)
  16. Oregon (July 1, 2013)
  17. New York* (June 15, 2016)
  18. Washington (November 8, 2016)
  19. Nevada (May 25, 2017)
  20. New Hampshire (June 6, 2019)
  21. Alaska (November 3, 2020)
  22. Virginia (January 28, 2021)

* Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware and New York law does not allow the passage of a resolution; therefore, a majority of the legislators signed a letter.

For more information see United For the People.

Additiona infomation below is dated on or before 1/28/2021 – the above list is the most current as of 6/22/2022.

Virginia becomes the 22nd State to Support an Amendment to Overturn Citizens United

Check the state-by-state rundown at https://reclaimtheamericandream.org/progress-amend/ to find out where your state stands or whether actions have been taken by major cities near you. The states that have taken action include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont Washington and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia. There have been other movements to join that list in Arkansas, Florida, Iowa and Minnesota.

The below information is from https://freespeechforpeople.org/state-resolutions-support-amending-constitution/

 

Passed Resolutions

California

AJR 22. Assembly members Weickowski and Allen. Passed on July 7, 2012.  Expresses disagreement with the Citizens United ruling and calls on the United States Congress to pass a constitutional amendment. Click here for the full text of the resolution.

Colorado

Amendment 65. On November 6, 2012, Colorado became one of the first two states to endorse an amendment through a statewide vote. I-82 was passed by over 74% of voters in Colorado. Click here to view the initiative text.

Connecticut.

On May 1, 2012, Senator Slossberg and Representative Morin presented a letter signed by a majority of Connecticut House and Senate members calling on Congress to pass an amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and related decisions. Click here to read the letter.

Delaware

On June 10, 2013, a bipartisan majority of both houses of Delaware’s General Assembly Members signed a letter calling on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment reversing the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Click here to read the letter.

Hawaii

HCR 282. Representative Herkes. Resolution passed on April 28, 2010.  Expresses disagreement with the Citizens United ruling and calls on the United States Congress to pass a constitutional amendment barring the use of “person” when defining “corporate entity.” Click here to read the text of the resolution.

Illinois

SJR 27. Senators McConnaughay and Althoff. Introduced March 13, 2013. Urges Congress to adopt a constitutional amendment reversing the Citizens United v. FEC ruling and related cases by clarifying that corporations and other artificial entities are not people with constitutional rights, and that money is property, not speech, and therefore can be regulated. Passed Senate on 5/14/2013. Placed on Calendar Order of Resolutions in House on 5/23/13. Passed the house on 5/31/13. Click here to read the text of the resolution.

Maine

SP 548. Senator Woodbury. Resolution passed on April 30, 2013. Joint resolution memorializing the United States Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to reverse the ruling of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Click here to read the press release.

Maryland

Senator Raskin presented a letter to the Maryland General Assembly on January 19, 2012.  The letter expresses the Maryland legislature’s opposition to the Supreme Court’s decision on Citizens United and calls for a constitutional amendment. A majority of members in the House and Senate have signed the letter. Click here to read the letter.

Massachusetts 

S 772. Senator Eldridge. Resolution passed on July 26, 2012. Free Speech For People resolution calling on the United States Congress to pass and send to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to restore the First Amendment and fair elections to the people. Click here to read the text of the resolution.

Montana

I-166. On November 6, 2012, Montana became one of the first two states to endorse an amendment through a statewide vote. I-166, the Prohibition on Corporate Contributions and Expenditures in Montana Elections Act, was passed by 75% of voters in Montana. Click here to view the initiative text.

New Jersey

SR 47. Senator Van Drew and Senator Stack.  Resolution passed on October 4, 2012. Resolution expressing strong opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, and calling upon Congress to propose amending the U.S. Constitution. Click here to read the text of the resolution.

New Mexico

HM 4. Representative Stewart. Passed on January 13, 2012. House Memorial calling on the US Congress to pass and send to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to overturn the US Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC and to restore republican democracy to the people. Click here to read the text of HM4.

SM 3. Senator Fischmann. Passed on February 11, 2012. Senate Memorial calling on the US Congress to pass and send to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to overturn the US Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC and to restore republican democracy to the people. Click here to read the text of SM3.

Oregon

HJM 6. Representatives Clem and Holvey. Passed July 1, 2013. Joint memorial urging Congress to pass and send to the state a Constitutional amendment clarifying the distinction between the rights of natural persons and the rights of corporations and other legal entities; and clarifying that Congress and state legislatures may regulate all moneys raised and spent for political purposes. Click here to read the text of HJM6.

Rhode Island

S 2656. Senator Paiva Weed. Passed May 21, 2012. Joint resolution urging Congress to pass and send to the states a Constitutional amendment permitting state and federal regulation and restriction of independent political expenditures. Click here to read the text of S2656.

H 7899. Representative Fox. Passed in the House on May 30, 2012. Joint resolution urging Congress to pass and send to the states a Constitutional Amendment permitting state and federal regulation and restriction of independent political expenditures.Click here to read the text of H7899.

Vermont

JRS 11. Senator Lyons. Passed on April 19, 2012. Joint resolution urging the United States Congress to propose amendments to the United States Constitution for the states’ consideration relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections and relating to the rights of corporations. Click here for additional information, including the full text of the resolution.

West Virginia

SR 24. Senators Snyder and Kessler. Passed on April 13, 2013. Opposing the United States Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Constitution in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission regarding the constitutional rights of corporations; supporting an amendment to the Constitution to provide that corporations are not entitled to the entirety of protections or rights of natural persons, specifically so that the expenditure of corporate money to influence the electoral process is no longer a form of constitutionally protected speech; and calling on Congress to begin the process of amending the Constitution. Click here to read the text of S.R. 24.