Article VII

This article exists because many Americans believe that money has gained too much influence over government and that ordinary citizens often struggle to compete with wealthy individuals, corporations, and special interests for political attention. As campaign costs rise and large sums of money continue to flow into elections and lobbying efforts, public trust in democratic institutions has declined. 

This article seeks to restore political equality by limiting the influence of money in politics, creating publicly financed election systems, and requiring greater transparency around political spending and lobbying activities. By making it easier for qualified candidates to run for office regardless of wealth and ensuring the public can see who is trying to influence government decisions, the article aims to make government more accountable to citizens rather than concentrated economic power.

Section 1 — Political Equality and Democratic Self-Government

All citizens possess equal political standing in democratic self-government, which shall not be conditioned upon wealth, economic status, or the ability to expend money or economic resources.

Congress and the States shall regulate and limit the use of money and economic resources to influence elections, legislation, public policy, or governmental action in order to prevent both systemic and individual corruption, protect political equality, and prevent domination of the political process by concentrated economic power.

Nothing in this Article shall be construed to abridge freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, or the right of individuals to advocate for political, social, or governmental change.

Section 2 — Public Financing and Electoral Access

Congress shall establish and maintain a system of public campaign financing designed to ensure that qualified candidates have a meaningful opportunity to seek and hold public office regardless of wealth or economic status.

Such systems shall be administered in a fair, transparent, viewpoint-neutral, and non-discriminatory manner.

States and local governments shall establish comparable systems for elections within their jurisdictions consistent with this Article.

Section 3 — Transparency of Political Influence

The People have a right to transparency regarding the funding, sponsorship, and direction of efforts intended to influence elections, legislation, regulation, public policy, or governmental action.

Congress and the States shall enact and maintain laws requiring transparent and readily available public disclosure of expenditures, compensated lobbying activities, and other organized influence activities involving the expenditure of money or economic resources to influence elections, legislation, regulation, public policy, or governmental action. 

Congress and the States shall enact and maintain laws preventing the use of money or economic resources to obtain privileged governmental access or preferential treatment unavailable on equal terms to the general public.

No person or entity may knowingly or recklessly conceal, misrepresent, or obscure the source, sponsorship, funding, or purpose of such activities.

Section 4 — Transparency and Accountability of Public Financing of Elections

Congress shall establish and maintain systems for the public oversight, auditing, and accountability of publicly financed campaign activities and expenditures.

Candidates, campaigns, committees, and other entities receiving public campaign funds shall maintain complete and accurate records of expenditures and shall disclose such expenditures in a timely and transparent manner as prescribed by law.

Such disclosures shall be publicly accessible and sufficient to permit meaningful public review of the use of campaign funds.

Section 5 — Public Interest and Integrity

The provisions of this Article shall be interpreted and implemented in a manner that protects democratic self-government, prevents corruption and the appearance of corruption, promotes political equality, and prevents domination of the political process by concentrated economic power.

Congress shall enact and maintain legislation necessary to implement and enforce this Article.