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Bills · 2015-2016 Regular Session

AJR 8

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: an advisory referendum on an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Constitution, united states Corporation Elections — Ballots Referendum United states — Congress

  1. Introduced, stopped here
  2. Passes Assembly, not reached
  3. Passes Senate, not reached
  4. Adopted, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan 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 2016 ballot

to ask the people if Congress should propose an amendment to overturn

Citizens

United v. F.E.C.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Berceau (D) , Billings (D) , Bowen (D) , Brostoff (D) , C. Taylor (D) , Considine (D) , Goyke (D) , Hebl (D) , Hesselbein (D) , Johnson (D) , Jorgensen (D) , Kahl (D) , Kolste (D) , Mason (D) , Meyers (D) , Ohnstad (D) , Pope (D) , Sargent (D) , Shankland (D) , Spreitzer (D) , Stuck (D) , Subeck (D) , Wachs (D) , Zamarripa (D)

7 cosponsors

C. Larson (D) , Hansen (D) , Harris Dodd (D) , Miller (D) , Ringhand (D) , Vinehout (D) , Wirch (D)

Votes

Suspending the rules (to take a vote immediately) needs a two-thirds majority — a higher bar than passing the bill, which needs a simple majority. That's why a suspension motion can show more Ayes than the passage vote that follows it. Glossary

Assembly: Refused to suspend rules to withdraw from committee on Constitution and Ethics and take up, Ayes 36, Noes 60

Failed 36–60 Jan 19, 2016 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. Feb 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Subeck, C. Taylor, Berceau, Billings, Considine, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Johnson, Jorgensen, Kahl, Kolste, Mason, Meyers, Ohnstad, Pope, Sargent, Shankland, Spreitzer, Stuck, Wachs, Zamarripa, Brostoff and Bowen; cosponsored by Senators Hansen, Wirch, Harris Dodd, C. Larson, Miller, Ringhand and Vinehout

  2. Feb 5, 2015 · Assembly

    Read and referred to Committee on Constitution and Ethics

  3. Jan 19, 2016 · Assembly

    Refused to suspend rules to withdraw from committee on Constitution and Ethics and take up, Ayes 36, Noes 60

  4. Apr 13, 2016 · Assembly

    Failed to adopt pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1