Corporations Quote by Thom Hartmann
““Traditional English, Dutch, French, and Spanish law didn’t say that corporations are people. The U.S. Constitution wasn’t written with that idea; corporations aren’t mentioned anywhere in the document or its Amendments. For America’s first century, courts all the way up to the Supreme Court repeatedly said, “No, corporations do not have the same rights as humans.” In fact, the Founders were quite clear (as you can see from Hamilton’s debate earlier) that only humans inherently have rights.””
About This Quote
The quote argues that U.S. law historically distinguishes corporations from natural persons, asserting that constitutional rights were intended for humans, not corporate entities.
In simple terms: Corporations lack constitutional personhood.
Key Takeaway
Corporate rights are not inherent.
Themes
legal history
constitutional law
corporate personhood
founding principles
jurisprudence
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
explanatory
historical
When to use this quote
- court rulings
- legislative debates
- public policy discussions
- academic analysis
Key Concepts
rights
legal status
jurisdiction
Practical Applications
- constitutional interpretation
- corporate governance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does corporate personhood affect democratic accountability?
- What implications does this have for corporate regulation?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that corporate personhood is a legal fiction necessary for economic activity and liability management.
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