H.J.Res. 101House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the permissible sources of funding for elections for public office and State ballot measures.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 6:41 PM UTC

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would restrict the sources of money used in elections for public office and in state ballot measure campaigns to either individual citizen contributions or funds from public financing or voter‑education programs established by government. It also requires federal, state, and local authorities to set limits on how much any individual can give to a campaign or ballot measure, including limits on candidates contributing to their own races. The amendment gives Congress and the states power to pass laws to carry out these rules while stating it does not affect press freedom. The changes would affect all federal, state, and local election campaigns and ballot‑measure advocacy.

Key Provisions

Only individual citizen contributions or funds from a public election‑financing or voter‑education system may be used to support or oppose any campaign for public office.
For state ballot measures, only contributions from eligible voters or public financing/voter‑education funds may be used.
Congress, states, and local jurisdictions must establish limits on the amount individuals can contribute to campaigns and ballot measures, including limits on candidates contributing to their own campaigns.
Congress and the states are authorized to implement the amendment through appropriate legislation.
The amendment does not grant Congress or states the power to restrict freedom of the press.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

December 8, 2022

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 8, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

December 8, 2022

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued December 8, 2022

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. J. RES. 101

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 8, 2022

Mr. McNerney submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the permissible sources of funding for elections for public office and State ballot measures.

That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

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The only source of funding to directly or indirectly support or oppose a campaign for election to public office shall be either contributions by individual citizens to the principal campaign committee controlled by the candidate or funds provided under a system of public election financing or voter education established by Congress, the State, or other jurisdiction as appropriate.

The only source of funding that may be used to directly or indirectly support or oppose a ballot measure to amend a State constitution or other initiatives or referenda shall be either contributions made by individuals who are eligible to vote on the measure or funds provided under a system of public election financing or voter education established by the State.

Congress, the States, and local jurisdictions shall establish limits on the amount of contributions individuals may make with respect to a single campaign for election to Federal, State, or local office, respectively, including limits on the amount of contributions an individual who is a candidate for such office may make with respect to the individual’s own campaign, and the States and local jurisdictions shall establish limits on the amount of contributions individuals may make with respect to a ballot measure.

Congress and the States shall have the power to carry out this article through appropriate legislation.

Nothing in this article shall be construed to grant Congress or the States the power to abridge the freedom of the press.