Title
Proposing 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.
Body
WHEREAS, Under Section 6 of the First Class City Home Rule Act (53 P.S. §13106), an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter may be proposed by a resolution of the Council of the City of Philadelphia adopted with the concurrence of two-thirds of its elected members; now, therefore,
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, THAT the following amendment to Article VIII of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter is hereby proposed and shall be submitted to the electors of the City on an election date designated by ordinance:
ARTICLE VIII
PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
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CHAPTER 5 REFERENDA APPROVED BY THE VOTERS
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§8-504. Constitutional Amendment to Defend Democracy from the Corrupting Effects of Undue Corporate Power
We, the citizens of Philadelphia, call upon the United States Congress to pass, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to ratify, a constitutional amendment that would overturn the Supreme Court decision 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. All appropriate City, State and Federal officials are hereby vested with the duty and the responsibility to take all appropriate steps, to the fullest extent allowable under law, to promote and defend the will and mandate of t...
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