S.J.Res. 78 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Sep 17, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryAmendment on campaign money and elections
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would give Congress and the states new power to regulate money in elections. It would let them limit how much money candidates and others can raise and spend to influence elections, and allow them to set up public systems to fund campaigns with taxpayer money. The amendment would also allow Congress and the states to treat corporations differently from individual people when it comes to election spending.
How it affects you
This doesn't directly change your life right now, since it's just a proposed amendment that would need to be approved by Congress and the states before becoming law. If it did become law, it could affect how political campaigns are funded and what kinds of spending limits are allowed in elections you vote in, though the summary doesn't spell out exactly what that would mean for individual voters or candidates.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Sep 17, 2025)
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing Congress and the states to (1) regulate and impose reasonable viewpoint-neutral limitations on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections; and (2) regulate and enact public campaign financing systems, including those designed to restrict the influence of private wealth by offsetting the raising and spending of money by candidates and others with increased public funding.
The amendment grants Congress and the states the power to implement and enforce this amendment by legislation. They are allowed to distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS.J.Res. 78
JOINT RESOLUTION
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the authority of Congress and the States to regulate contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections and to enact public financing systems for political campaigns.
Sponsor: Sen. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA) · Introduced Sep 17, 2025 · Government Operations and Politics · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 17, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.”