The following is the final text of the Senate Resolution on Citizens United,  which passed the Massachusetts Senate on a bipartisan 35-1 vote on Thursday, July 26, 2012:

“MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PASS AND SEND TO THE STATES FOR RATIFICATION A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO RESTORE THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND FAIR ELECTIONS TO THE PEOPLE.

WHEREAS, FOR THE PAST 3 DECADES, A DIVIDED UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HAS STRETCHED THE LIMITS OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO ALLOW FOR CORPORATIONS, UNIONS, POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES AND SUPER POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES TO INFLUENCE THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND DEMOCRATICALLY-ENACTED REFORMS; AND

WHEREAS, THE FIRST AMENDMENT HAS BEEN GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT’S RECENT RULING IN CITIZENS UNITED V. THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION; AND

WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT’S RULING IN CITIZENS UNITED OVERTURNED LONGSTANDING PRECEDENT PROHIBITING THESE INTERESTS FROM SPENDING GENERAL TREASURY FUNDS IN DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS; AND

WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT’S RULING IN CITIZENS UNITED WILL ALLOW SPECIAL INTERESTS LIMITLESS AND UNPRECEDENTED CAMPAIGN SPENDING AND THUS DISPROPORTIONATE INFLUENCE, THREATENING THE FAIRNESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS; AND

WHEREAS, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE PREVIOUSLY USED THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROCESS TO OVERTURN SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THAT PRESENT A RISK TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND SELF GOVERNMENT; NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE HEREBY MEMORIALIZES THE 112^TH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PASS AND SEND TO THE STATES FOR RATIFICATION A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO RESTORE THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND FAIR ELECTIONS TO THE PEOPLE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS BE TRANSMITTED FORTHWITH BY THE CLERK OF THE SENATE TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF EACH BRANCH OF CONGRESS AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THOSE BRANCHES FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.”