Title
Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to Article VIII, Chapter 5 of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, entitled Referenda Approved by the Voters, by adding a new section providing that the citizens of Philadelphia urge the United States Congress to propose, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to ratify, an amendment to the United States Constitution that would defend democracy from the corrupting effects of undue corporate power by overturning the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission; fixing the date of a special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot questions to be voted on; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. There shall be submitted for the approval or disapproval of the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia at the election to be held May 21, 2013, an amendment to Article VIII, Chapter 5 of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, entitled Referenda Approved by the Voters, by adding a new section that the citizens of Philadelphia urge the United States Congress to propose, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to ratify, an amendment to the United States Constitution that would defend democracy from the corrupting effects of undue corporate power by overturning the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The proposed amendment is contained in Resolution No. 130073, on file in the Office of the Clerk of Council.
SECTION 2. There shall be placed on the ballot the following question to be answered Yes or No by the qualified electors participating in the election:
Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to state that the citizens of Philadelphia urge the United States Congress to propose, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to ratify, an amendment to the United States Constitution that would overturn the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission by allowing limits to be placed on political campaign spending, reducing the influence of money in politics, and establishing that corporations are not people with constitutional rights?
SECTION 3. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to have printed in pamphlet form, in sufficient number for general distribution, the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter as set forth in Resolution No. 130073, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to cause to be published in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City and in the Legal Intelligencer the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance, once a week during the three (3) weeks preceding the election on May 21, 2013; and further, at such other time and in such other manner as he may consider desirable.
SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to issue a proclamation giving at least thirty (30) days' notice of such election. The Clerk of Council shall cause a copy of the proclamation to be published, together with the notice provided for in Section 4 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. The appropriate officers are authorized and directed to take such action as may be required for the holding of an election on the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance as provided for by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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