Show Notes - The Corporations Are People!

Episode:

#50

Title:

The Corporations Are People! (The myths and misconceptions of corporate personhood)

Summary:

Today on Legalese, we will be talking about the myths and misconceptions of corporate personhood, based on a topic request/question from a subscriber on YouTube in my past episode The Originalist Privileges and Immunities Clause.

@GG-ud1ib Asked the following question:

This was a great question that gave me the opportunity to explore a number of interesting and esoteric ideas from the difference between natural persons and legal persons, as well as the difference between natural rights and legal rights.

We also discuss the meaning and purpose of the doctrine of corporate personhood. A doctrine that recognizes corporations as legal entities - that may act as a single, fictional person. As well as why corporations are granted some legal rights.

We look at how the expression of forms, structure and powers of corporations. Especially the description of the famous common law jurist Sir William Blackstone in his legal treatise Commentaries on the Common Laws of England.

This further elucidates the error in assumptions that the term “corporation” refers exclusively to large, private for-profit companies. As well as the reasons why corporations and corporate personhood are beneficial to not only the corporation itself, but to society at large.

Finally, we discuss why, regardless of what many people believe, corporate personhood does not:

Opens the floodgates to corporate influence in politics and government from both domestic and foreign corporations…

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Sources:

• William Blackstone’s “Of Corporations” from Book I, Chapter XVIII of “Commentaries on the Common Laws of England”

• 11 CFR § 110.20 - Prohibition on contributions, donations, expenditures, independent expenditures, and disbursements by foreign nationals.

• 52 U.S. Code § 30109 - Enforcement

• 36 U.S. Code § 510 - Disclosure of and prohibition on certain donations

• 52 U.S. Code § 30121 - Contributions and donations by foreign nationals

• Bluman v. Federal Election Commission, 800 F. Supp. 2d 281 (D.D.C. 2011)

• Bluman v Federal Election Commission (2012) - Supreme Court Summary Affirmation

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My Past Episodes

• People Are Corporations - An Open Letter To Citizens United Haters

• The Originalist Privileges and Immunities Clause

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