S.J. Res. 19, a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections

As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on July 10, 2014

S.J. Res. 19 would propose an amendment to the Constitution to allow the Congress and individual states to enact legislation that regulates the raising and spending of money in federal and state elections. By itself, this legislation would have no effect on the federal budget. If the proposed amendment to the Constitution were approved by the states, then any future legislation regulating the financing of elections could impose additional costs on executive branch agencies, including the Federal Election Commission, and on the judicial branch; however, any such costs would be attributed to subsequent legislation. Enacting S.J. Res. 19 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

S.J. Res. 19 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. In order for the amendment to become part of the Constitution, three-fourths of the state legislatures would have to ratify the resolution within seven years of its submission to the states by the Congress. However, no state would be required to take action on the resolution, either to reject it or approve it.