Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this legislative resolution is to address campaign finance reform in the United States through a constitutional amendment. It seeks to regulate the influence of money in elections and governance by proposing more transparency, preventing corruption, and protecting against undue influence over elected officials.

Main Provisions

• The bill is a call to the United States Congress to convene an Article V constitutional convention.
• The convention’s purpose would be to propose an amendment that regulates the role of money in elections and governance.
• This amendment aims to ensure transparency in campaign finance, prevent corruption, and protect against the buying of access or influence over representatives.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The resolution proposes an engagement under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which allows either Congress or a convention of states to propose constitutional amendments. This is significant since Article V is rarely used through state-initiated conventions.
• If Congress does not propose an amendment by December 31, 2026, the Minnesota Legislature requests that a constitutional convention be convened to address this specific issue of campaign finance reform.

Implementation

• Minnesota's application will join similar applications from other states, as specified under Article V, to reach the required two-thirds majority necessary to prompt Congress to call a convention.
• The resolution remains active until the legislatures of the requisite number of states have submitted similar applications.
• The Minnesota Secretary of State is tasked with sending copies of this resolution to relevant federal and state officials.

Relevant Terms

Article V, constitutional convention, campaign finance reform, transparency, corruption prevention, influence in governance, constitutional amendment, state legislature, U.S. Congress.