July 18 Event!

For Immediate Release

Occupy Congress
We Move to Amend Citizens United!
Get Money Out of Politics Now

Contact: occupycongressj17@gmail.com

The U.S. Supreme Court decision of June 25, 2012, nullifying Montana’s 100 year old Corrupt Practices Act demonstrates that the highest court in the land will not tolerate any diminishment of its controversial  2010 Citizens United decision.  Monday’s Court ruling applies Citizens United to all electoral races in every state.   It is therefore incumbent upon the people of the United States to demand Congress propose a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

Occupy Congress is calling on every citizen to visit their congressional representatives in Washington, DC on Wednesday, July 18, at noon to demand their elected officials propose and vote for a joint resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution to nullify Citizens United.

Click here for the complete contact information of your representatives. We urge you to make appointments immediately to see your Congressperson or Senator on July 18 at noon with this demand.  If you are unsuccessful in securing an appointment, simply show up at your Senators’ or Congresspersons’ office in Washington, DC on July 18 at noon—the halls of Congress are your halls, and no one can be denied access to their elected representatives’ offices.  If you cannot come to Washington, DC, call, email, facebook post, tweet and fax your representatives beginning at noon on July 16th.

The Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission ruling struck down federal limits on political campaign spending by corporations and unions as violative of the First Amendment’s free speech clause, and deemed such organizations “persons”.  Monday’s decision further entrenches the 2010 decision claiming that there is no risk of corruption when corporations and unions spend millions of dollars influencing elections.

BACKGROUND: Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. (None of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by constitutional convention.)  Congress proposes the amendment in the form of a joint resolution.  The proposed amendment is submitted to the States for their consideration and becomes part of the Constitution as soon as it is ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 of 50 States).