HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS-2012-040-R-12•
5/3/2012
40-R-12
A RESOLUTION
The City of Evanston's Opposition to the
U.S. Supreme Court's Conclusion in Citizens United v. FEC
relating to Constitutional Rights for Corporate Entities
WHEREAS, in 2010, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision
in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 50, 130 S.Ct. 876 (2010),
holding that governmental restrictions on corporate and union expenditures on political
campaigns violated the First Amendment's guarantees of free speech, and concluded
that corporations and special interest groups have the same protections for political
speech as natural persons; and
WHEREAS, business entities such as corporations, limited liability
• companies, and other entities established by the laws of the United States, any State, or
•
a foreign state, are subject to regulation by the people through federal, state, or local
law; and
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, in effect, limits
the ability of the U.S. Congress and state governments to enact campaign finance
reform and to regulate corporate and special interest political activity through campaign
expenditures and disclosures; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress and state governments should be able to
regulate corporate and special interest expenditures in the electoral process and require
full disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures,
40-R-12
NOW BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF 0
EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, THAT:
SECTION 1: The Evanston City Council supports amending the U.S.
Constitution to permit the U.S. Congress and state governments to regulate corporate
and special interest group expenditures in the electoral process.
SECTION 2: The Evanston City Council supports efforts to effectively
overturn the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal
Election Commission, including the constitutional amendment sponsored by U.S.
Senator Dick Durbin (IL).
SECTION 3: This Resolution 40-R-12 shall be in full force and effect from
and after its passage and approval in the manner provided by law.
Eliz- eth B. Tisdahl, Mayor
At
tes
Ro ey Gr /e ,City Clerk
Adopted: �-MOJ � ) `i , 2012
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