Reclaim Democracy!

Eliminating Corporate Power over Ballot Initiatives

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The Problem:

Corporate executives often wield their Supreme Court-created power to defeat citizen ballot initiatives. Increasingly, corporations and wealthy individuals are putting measures on the ballot that advance their own self-interest. While it is far easier for corporations to defeat citizen initiatives than to pass their own, just the threat of running a costly initiative campaign can be sufficient to alter decisions by local or state officials.

In 2018, 48 ballot measures raised more than $5 million in spending, and the side that spent more won 42 of these. In the 10 most expensive ballot measures, the side that spent more won each race. (Source: Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, newer data was not compiled as of our last update)

  • In First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti (1978) the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Massachusetts law prohibiting corporate spending to influence state ballot initiatives (on First Amendment grounds). Though the opinion resorted to “listeners’ rights” arguments that protect free speech and not the corporate “speaker,” the effect was to create a presumed corporate right to influence ballot questions. The sharp dissent of conservative Justice William Rehnquist is key reading.
  • In Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce (1990) the Court held that there was no First Amendment violation in requiring a corporation to set up segregated funds (i.e., a Political Action Committee) for spending on candidate campaigns. So, while executives and employees could contribute to a corporation-affiliated PAC, the corporation could not write company checks directly to a candidate’s campaign.
  • Following the Austin ruling’s logic, in 1996 Montana citizens drafted and passed Initiative 125, which banned direct corporate contributions to initiative campaigns. The law was challenged by the Montana Chamber of Commerce and others as unconstitutional. Deciding Bellotti, rather than Austin was the guiding precedent, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals took Bellotti even further in striking down I-125 (Montana Chamber, et. al. v. Argenbright, 2000).
  • After Bellotti, a series of Supreme Court decisions showed increased deference to legislative campaign contribution limits, leading some scholars to believe that a reversal of Bellotti might occur. However, since John Roberts was selected as Chief Justice, the Court seems to have tacked sharply against limiting corporate privileges, as we see with the Citizens United ruling.

Our Objectives:

Reclaim Democracy works to create widespread public awareness of the damage done to democracy by granting corporations the right to influence initiatives and referenda. We seek to re-frame local ballot measure battles and coordinate a legal strategy to erode corporate political speech privileges via local and state campaigns. Our ultimate goal is to build support to overturn the Bellotti ruling at the Supreme Court or via amending the Constitution.

Recent Examples and Opportunities:

  • In March of 2021, Utah State legislators advanced a bill to hinder the ability of citizens to bring initiatives to the ballot. An out-of-state, dark money group worked side-by-side with a legislator on the bill, attending committee hearings and legislative sessions in support.
  • In California, Proposition 10, which would allow local municipalities to adopt rent-control provisions, was defeated in 2018. Campaign opponents raised $80 million, from mostly out-of-state investors.
  • In 2012, California’s Proposition 37, which would require GMO foods to be labeled as such, was defeated after millions were spent by huge corporations like Monsanto and DuPont.
  • In Michigan, 2012’s failed Proposal 6 sought to amend the State Constitution to require the approval of a majority of voters for proposed international bridges or tunnels. The bill was backed by a man who generated $60 million annually from a privately owned toll bridge.

Key Background Resources

Other Court Cases

Papers

Additional Resources