Nov. 2018 Question 2: Citizen Initiative for People Govern Not Money

We the People Massachusetts worked with allies to help get Question 2 on the November 2018 statewide ballot. The effort was led by People Govern Not Money and American Promise. We also helped educate voters to Vote Yes on Question 2.

The initiative passed by a vote of over 71% statewide. The passage of this initiative created a commission called the “Citizens Commission Concerning a Constitutional Amendment for Government of the People.”

Link to Citizens Commission: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/citizens-commission-created-by-2018-ballot-question-2

The Commission met for 18 months and We the People Massachusetts members gave regular testimony and invited expert speakers. A key conclusion of the Commission was to endorse the We the People Act.

Here’s a quote from the second and final report of the Citizens Commission in August, 2020:

"Therefore, Massachusetts should support and find ways to (1) work through the US Congress to pass the amendments and submit for ratification by the states, (2) consider and support efforts behind a limited-purpose Article V convention, provided it is limited to amendments that are the subject of this Commission.”

The Commission also drafted language for 2 proposed constitutional amendments:

Amendment #1

Section 1.

We the People have compelling sovereign interests in representative self-government, federalism, the integrity of the electoral process, and the political equality of natural persons.

Section 2.

Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to forbid Congress or the States, within their respective jurisdictions, from reasonably regulating and limiting contributions and expenditures in campaigns, elections or ballot measures.

Section 3.

Congress and the States shall have the power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation, and may distinguish between natural persons and juridical persons, including by prohibiting juridical persons from raising and spending money in campaigns, elections or ballot measures.

Amendment #2

The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only.

We urged the Commission to propose a single binding, two-part amendment that 1) reserves Constitutional rights for real people only, not artificial incorporated entities, and 2) requires Congress to enact campaign finance reforms to ensure equal political rights for all citizens, rich and poor alike. We believe this is important to increase the chances of passing both key principles. We asked them to use the We the People Amendment, HJR.48, as a template for their recommended amendment language.

The Commission has filed new legislation to establish a successor commission to advance the proposed amendments in Massachusetts and around the country.