50 Organizations Present Letter to Congress Requesting Hearings on Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United

Reflecting the millions of Americans concerned about the undue influence wielded by corporations and wealthy special interests in our democracy, 50 organizations have jointly signed and presented a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees requesting hearings to explore constitutional remedies to overturn the Supreme Court's flawed decision in Citizens United v. FEC and related cases. This letter follows over 350 events in 49 states - from teach-ins to courthouse protests - organized by many of signing groups to call attention to the negative effects of Citizens United on the second anniversary of the decision.

"In Citizens United, the Court ruled that corporations are guaranteed the same free speech rights as real people to influence elections, thereby ruling that governmental restrictions on corporate spending to influence elections are invalid and unconstitutional," the letter reads. While disclosure legislation may mitigate some of the damage of this decision, "Only amending the Constitution can fully secure the American people's authority to regulate corporate influence in our elections and restore our democracy."

"Americans have become increasingly distressed at the toxic effects of unrestrained corporate and special interest money that is influencing our political system," and are demanding action from our elected representatives. So far in the 112th Congress, 13 constitutional amendment resolutions have been introduced, and dozens more have been passed at the state and local level. "As activists have mobilized and protested across the country," the letter states, "it is time for Congress to explore in earnest the range of resolutions that have been introduced to undo the harmful effects of the Court's decision," and advance "the critical debate about how the Constitution should be amended to return our democracy to the people."

Signatories to the letter include People For the American Way, Public Citizen, Common Cause, Communications Workers of America, MoveOn.org, Free Speech For People, Move to Amend, Public Campaign, Greenpeace and African American Ministers In Action. Please follow the links to the full letters to the House and Senate.