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Bill

SD 370

Resolutions for a United States Constitutional Amendment and a limited amendment proposing convention

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Barrett and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts petitions Congress and convenes a limited convention to propose a constitutional amendment restricting campaign finance and corporate political spending.

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Bill Summary · SD 370

Legislative bill overview

SD 370 calls for Massachusetts to petition Congress to propose a constitutional amendment limiting campaign finance and corporate political spending, and simultaneously requests Congress to call a constitutional convention limited to addressing the same issues. The bill essentially pursues two parallel pathways—the traditional amendment process (Article V, Section 1) and the convention mechanism (Article V, Section 3)—to achieve the same constitutional change.

Why is this important

Campaign finance and corporate political spending are contentious issues affecting electoral politics nationwide. This resolution represents a state-level effort to initiate federal constitutional change, which is relatively rare and reflects concerns about money's influence in elections. The dual approach demonstrates legislative frustration with the amendment process's difficulty, since the convention pathway requires only 34 states to call one, potentially bypassing congressional gridlock.

Potential points of contention

  • Convention safety concerns: A limited constitutional convention focused on campaign finance could face legal ambiguity about whether delegates would stay within the proposed scope or potentially address other amendments, creating uncertainty and risk.
  • Federalism debate: Critics may argue states shouldn't use the convention mechanism as an end-run around Congress, while supporters contend this reflects legitimate state sovereignty in constitutional matters.
  • Citizens United precedent: The bill implicitly seeks to overturn or circumvent the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which some view as settled constitutional law while others see as wrongly decided and requiring correction.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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