The Corporate Election Integrity Act

Section 1: Purpose and Findings

The purpose of this Act is to uphold the integrity of the electoral process in the United States by prohibiting publicly traded corporations from influencing elections through funding or sponsorship. The findings of Congress include the following:

1. The influence of corporate money in politics undermines democratic processes and the principle of equal representation.
2. Publicly traded corporations often prioritize profit over public interest, leading to potential conflicts of interest in political campaigns.
3. There is a pressing need to restore public trust in the electoral process.

Section 2: Definitions

For the purposes of this Act:

1. “Publicly traded company” refers to any corporation whose shares are traded on a public stock exchange.
2. “Election campaign” refers to any campaign for federal, state, or local public office.
3. “Candidate” refers to any individual who has declared their intention to run for public office.

Section 3: Prohibition of Corporate Funding

1. Publicly traded companies are hereby prohibited from sponsoring, funding, or contributing to any election campaign or candidate.
2. Any employee of a publicly traded company is restricted to a maximum donation of $20 per calendar year to any one candidate.

Section 4: Penalties for Violations

1. Any publicly traded company found in violation of this Act shall be subject to fines not exceeding $1,000,000 for each violation and may face corporate dissolution.
2. Any candidate accepting funding or sponsorship from a publicly traded company, or donations exceeding $20, shall be fined $100,000 and declared ineligible for election for life.
3. Elected officials found to have violated this Act while in office shall be immediately removed from their position and fined $50,000.
4. Any previous elected official found to have violated this Act after their term has ended shall face fines up to $250,000 and imprisonment for no more than five years.

Section 5: Enforcement and Implementation

1. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) shall be responsible for enforcing this Act and ensuring compliance among publicly traded companies and candidates.
2. The FEC shall have the authority to investigate any alleged violations and impose penalties as outlined in this Act.

Section 6: Severability

If any provision of this Act is found to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.

Section 7: Effective Date

This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.

This proposed Act aims to ensure that elections remain free from corporate influence, fostering a more equitable political environment.