Cross-partisan support and citizen-led action are crucial for the success of the 28th Amendment—now is a critical time to ask Republican senators to lead the way by supporting a Senate bill to get big money out of politics.

The Democracy for All Amendment—introduced with bipartisan support in January in the U.S. House of Representatives—will soon be introduced in the U.S. Senate. Right now Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) is seeking Republican co-sponsors to join him in leading the way toward transforming our government, a movement with overwhelming support among Americans of every political persuasion.

This is our chance.

Call your Republican senators today!

We need your help now to encourage Republican senators to join Sen. Udall in calling for change in our political system, so our elected officials listen to We the People rather than wealthy individuals, corporations, unions and special interest groups.

A Cross-Partisan, Citizen-Led Movement

American Promise is leading the cross-partisan, grassroots movement for a 28th Amendment across the nation. Many Republican candidates and lawmakers on the state and local level have called for the amendment. Now it is time to ask Republican senators to do the same and put our country first.

We cannot miss this opportunity. The ask must come from you—the constituents. Contact your Republican senators and ask them to join you and other Americans who support Sen. Udall’s proposal. This citizen-led fight for a 28th Amendment moves us closer to reclaiming government of, by and for the People.

Sign this petition urging Congress to support the amendment.

Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of thousands of Americans working together under the American Promise campaign, the amendment’s introduction in the House was the first time since Citizens United v. FEC that a Constitutional amendment has been introduced with cross-partisan lead sponsors working together. Now we have the chance to repeat this accomplishment in the Senate.

This is a turning point in the drive to win passage of the 28th Amendment, which will require
cross-partisan support of ⅔ of the Congress and ratification in ¾ of the states.

Democracy for All Amendment FAQs

What does this amendment do? The text of the Democracy for All Amendment states:
Section I. To advance democratic self-government and political equality, and to protect the integrity of government and the electoral process, Congress and the States may regulate and set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections.

Section II. Congress and the States shall have power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation, and may distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.

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

As with most Constitutional language, these simple words carry big meaning and impact.

• Section one secures “political equality” of Americans, protecting the equal rights of all Americans to free speech, voting, representation, etc.—not giving undue influence to those with enough money to fund a Super PAC. Section one also protects the “integrity of government and elections.” These words enable Americans to end systemic corruption where powerful, wealthy interests defeat, undermine or buy federal, state and local laws to serve themselves, at the costs of the country, our communities and people.
• Section two distinguishes “between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.” This amendment would mark the first time the word “corporation” is used in the Constitution, establishing that when it comes to regulating campaign finance, corporations do not have the inalienable, fundamental rights of human beings under the Constitution, and that Americans can enact election laws that distinguish between human beings and corporations.
  

Why is this amendment so important?

An amendment is the urgently needed foundation for much-needed reform. We cannot build successful republican government on a system where money, rather than citizenship, decides who has a political voice and who does not. The 28th Amendment locks in foundational principles for all time that provide the conditions for successful democracy: anti-corruption, equal rights, and representation of people, not monied interests.

Is this language for the 28th Amendment final?

No. The Democracy for All Amendment is a strong and effective Constitutional amendment to address many of the problems created by the Supreme Court’s radical and misguided experiment in mandating unlimited money in elections. Other amendment approaches have been and will be proposed in Congress, and deliberation in Congress and across the nation will continue to make sure the best, most effective amendment language passes Congress and is promptly ratified in the states. To follow or get involved in this process, see American Promise’s Writing the 28th Amendment program.

What can I do to help?

Constitutional amendments create the foundation for core American principles necessary for a healthy democracy and effective self-government. Amendments gave us the Bill of Rights, the end of slavery, equal protection of the laws, voting rights for women and all Americans of every race, term limits for presidents and so much more. But they only happen with the vocal support of American citizens all over the country.

American Promise is empowering, organizing and unifying Americans in every state to win this historic reform now.

• Call or write your Republican senators to urge that they join this cross-partisan Constitutional amendment proposal.
• Celebrate this cross-partisan breakthrough by informing others. Please urgently share the news and click here to sign our petition of support.
• Sign up for our newsletter to keep informed of the progress in Congress and across the country.
• Join American Promise and donate so that, together, all Americans can win this now, for us and for the future.