The Economic Bill of Rights


In 1944, President Roosevelt gave a radio address in which he called for a 'second Bill of Rights,' this one economic in nature, which would promote social justice and equality while safeguarding democracy and political stability in the Republic. He did not call for additional amendments to the United States Constitution, apparently believing that future Federal laws and public policy would be adequate to address the issues of economic justice he brought up in his address. Sadly, this has not happened. It has now been over sixty years since President Roosevelt's speech; we, the supporters of such reform, therefore call upon Congress to consider the proposed Constitutional amendments below. Taken together, these thirteen amendments comprise a true Economic Bill of Rights that would go far to redress the increasing injustices which the present economic policies of the United States inflict upon its citizens. Thoughtful comments and proposed modifications to the below amendments are welcome.

Amendment XXVIII
A business corporation's imperative to make financial profit shall not supercede the common good.
Amendment XXIX
It being an affront to all human dignity and civic good for a corporation chartered and instituted for the purpose of economic gain to possess the legal status of a private citizen, thereby enjoying all the rights which such status grants, there shall be no law established allowing for such corporate personhood, nor shall any existing law be construed to make provision for same; and any previous court rulings to the contrary are hereby null and void.
Amendment XXX
No corporation, privately or publicly owned, shall be construed as possessing the legal status of a nation or state, nor shall any law be established making provision for such; and any corporation, within or without the territory of the United States of America, which attains such status with respect to the governments of other countries or the community of nations shall not have said status recognized by the Federal government nor by the several state governments.
Amendment XXXI
The labor force of any company incorporated within the United States of America must consist of at least ninety percent United States citizens or legal residents.
Amendment XXXII
Section 1. A decent living wage must be enjoyed by all who labor, as a basic human right; to this end, Congress shall determine a reasonable minimum hourly wage commensurate with the realistic cost of living in the United States of America, and shall, every twelve months, make an adjustment to this hourly wage in the equal amount of any inflation of currency that has occurred over the previous twelve months. In the event that there has been deflation of currency during the previous twelve months, no adjustment to the minimum hourly wage shall be made.

Section 2. The hourly wage referenced in Section 1 of this amendment shall never be less than that which would result in annual wages (based on a work-year of two thousand hours) totaling one-eighth the annual salary of a member of the House of Representatives.

Amendment XXXIII
The right of collective bargaining on the part of laborers, through labor unions, trade associations, and other forms of organization, shall not be abridged.
Amendment XXXIV
The right of laborers to safe, clean, and dignified working conditions shall not be abridged.
Amendment XXXV
As there can be no graver responsibility of the government of a civilized nation than that of safeguarding the physical health of the people, Congress shall make provision for national medical coverage, allowing for universal access to healthcare for all who live within the United States, and to be enacted not later than thirty-six months after the passing of this amendment.
Amendment XXXVI
As a democratic republic such as the United States of America cannot long survive, much less thrive, without an educated populace, the public institutions of higher learning shall not charge tuition, including tuition at the graduate level, and Congress shall make provision in the United States Department of Education budget to replace such tuition, to be enacted not later than eighteen months after the passing of this amendment.
Amendment XXXVII
To prevent the squandering of the country's wealth, the beggaring of the people, and the betrayal of public trust, Congress and the President shall, on an annual basis, arrive at a balanced Federal budget.
Amendment XXXVIII
The total military expenditures of the Federal government shall not exceed one tenth of the total annual Federal budget, except at such times when a formal Declaration of War by Congress is in effect.
Amendment XXXIX
The people of the United States of America shall have full and unconditional access to all publicly beneficial technologies and scientific research whose development was paid for by Federal funding.
Amendment XL
As it is the inalienable right of the people to retain sole control over the nation's money supply, the United States Treasury Department shall have the sole authority to mint and print currency for the United States of America, and will annually and publicly disclose the total United States currency in circulation.

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