WHEREAS,
government of, by, and for the People has been a long cherished American value
and legal foundation; and Corporations are not human beings and therefore, as
our legal creations, are rightfully subservient to human beings and
governments;
WHEREAS,
free and fair elections are essential to democracy and effective
self-governance, and the Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission
decision supersedes state and local efforts
to regulate corporate activity in their elections;
WHEREAS,
it is the inherent right of the residents of the City of Olympia to govern
their own community, including, without limitation, the Declarations of
Independence’s provision that governments are instituted to secure the rights
of people and the Washington State Constitution’s recognition that “all
political power is inherent in the people”; and
WHEREAS,
the Olympia City Council believes that local legislation that embodies the
fundamental interests of the community is mandated by the doctrine of the
consent of the governed;
NOW
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Olympia affirms and upholds the
principle that the rights protected by the Constitution of the United States
are the rights of natural persons only.
Artificial
entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities
established by the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state
shall have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to regulation by
the People, through Federal, State, or local law.
The privileges of artificial entities shall be
determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable.
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that Federal, State and local government shall regulate all
political contributions and expenditures made for the purpose of
influencing in any way the electoral process and shall mandate that all
political contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed.
The judiciary shall not construe the spending of
money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment.
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that nothing contained in this resolution shall be
construed to abridge the freedom of the press.
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that by the adoption of this Resolution, with the concurrence
of the Mayor, the City of Olympia hereby indicates its SUPPORT for Legislative
actions ensuring corporations are not entitled to the protections or
"rights" of human beings, but only to the rights enumerated in their
charters which created them as legal entities; and specifically that the
expenditure of corporate money to influence the electoral process is no longer
a form of constitutionally protected speech.
