State Constitutions

 

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Prior to the 1886 case, Santa Clara County vs Southern Pacific Railroad, corporations were considered non persons. But, after this case, the perceived notion that corporations were persons, was pushed forward by lower courts (many judges were former railroad lawyers). Why? Because of a "Headnote" in a Law Review of the cases of that year. Not by a ruling by the Supreme Court, but by a "Headnote" written by the court recorder, J.C. Bancroft Davis (himself a railroad lawyer). The case of Santa Clara County vs Southern Pacific Railroad in 1886, was about tax assessment of fences along the railroad line, and Santa Clara County was charging more than another county. The railroad argued that they should have the same rights as given by the 14th Amendment. The court ruled in favor of the railroad on tax assessment of the fences, not on equal statis of the 14th amendment. In the "Headnote" Davis wrote that railroads were "persons" instead of "artifical persons." Since then...the courts have given corporations more rights than the Founding Fathers intended.

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Come and learn the history, and the ramifications of this injustice that has given corporations more rights than people, in this country. What can we do to fix this problem, and how can I get involved in righting this wrong.

The History page will be a timeline of events leading up to this case, how people thought back in colonial days during the writing of the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Also, what happened after this case, and where we are today.

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The Supreme Court cases page, will have notable cases from Supreme Court, and pictures of the Chief Justices. Also, the US Court system, Legal Latin Terms, and more. 

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I have added a FOUNDING FATHERS page, simply because many people don't even know anything about the Founding Fathers, let alone, who they were.

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I added EACH State Constitution, for those of you who want to know how your State, has GIVEN up your rights to Corporations in the name of jobs. NOTE: Remember when Sports Teams used to OWN their own ball parks? Now, you get to pay for them, and you get nothing in return...except higher ticket prices, higher consession, and higher parking.

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I added a Famous Quote page, from high ranking people through out history who have warned us about the rising influence and power of the Corporations.

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I have added a GOOD ARTICLE section, where writers have written extensively on this issue, most notibly Thom Hartman.

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The Comment page is where you can sound off, and let me know how you feel about "Personhood."

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The Links page, will have different sites you can go to, to get involved in petition drives, marches, rallies, and whatever I can find that can direct you, in helping this cause.

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The Facebook Link page, is the original site I have, that lead me to make this web-page. I had to organize better, and The Web-page is more of an organized way of getting the story and time-line in its proper order.

 

The Founding Fathers Did Not Want Large Corporations

When the United States gained its independence in 1776, there were 336 corporations in the United States, but most had been chartered by state governments for specific public works projects. The Founding Fathers, still mindful of the crushing power once wielded by the East India Company, severly limited the power of corporations and never would have dreamed of nor allowed the trans-national behemoths we see today. In fact, the original limitations seem laughable when we consider our modern corporations:

1) Corporate charters were granted for fixed periods of time, usually between 10 and 40 years.
2) Corporate charters could be promptly revoked for violations of law or for causing public harm.
3) Corporations could engage only in activities necessary to fulfill their chartered purpose
4) Corporations could not own property that was not essential to the fulfilling of their chartered purpose
5) Corporations could not own stock in other corporations.
6) The personal assets of corporate shareholders were not protected from the consequences of corporate behavior