Establishing the Commission to Propose a Constitutional Amendment Abolishing All Forms of Slavery and Involuntary Servitude

EXECUTIVE ORDER

ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION TO PROPOSE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ABOLISHING ALL FORMS OF SLAVERY AND INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE, WITH EXTRATERRITORIAL APPLICATION, CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON CORPORATE PERSONHOOD, AND REVIEW OF TAXATION AND ANTI CAPTURE MECHANISMS

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including Article II, Section 1, and the inherent executive authority to recommend measures to the Congress, and pursuant to the Department of Justice Appropriation Act and the authority to establish advisory committees under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), it is hereby ordered as follows:

Preamble.
The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1865, declared that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” That amendment was a monumental step toward freedom, yet it contained a fatal exception: it permitted involuntary servitude as punishment for crime.

That exception has been exploited across generations—through convict leasing, the chain gang, the modern prison industrial complex, and practices that compel labor under threat of penalty. Today, millions of people in the United States work under conditions that, in any other context, would be recognized as involuntary servitude.

It is the policy of my Administration to propose a constitutional amendment that removes the “except as punishment for crime” exception; broadly defines slavery and involuntary servitude; prohibits debt bondage and peonage; explicitly applies prohibitions to persons, corporations, and entities public and private; and extends the prohibition to conduct within U.S. jurisdiction and to U.S. citizens and entities abroad to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Section 1. Establishment of the Commission on Constitutional Freedom.
(a) There is hereby established the Commission on Constitutional Freedom (the “Commission”).
(b) The Commission shall be composed of no more than 15 members appointed by the President, including legal scholars, historians, advocates, tax and finance experts, representatives of purpose-driven enterprises, impacted communities, and ex officio congressional participants.
(c) The President shall designate a Chair and Vice Chair.
(d) The Commission shall be housed within the Department of Justice for administrative purposes and operate independently in deliberations.

Sec. 2. Duties of the Commission.
The Commission shall:
(a) Review the Thirteenth Amendment, its history, and judicial interpretations;
(b) Identify contemporary practices of slavery, involuntary servitude, peonage, or debt bondage;
(c) Draft a proposed constitutional amendment removing the punishment exception and applying protections to all persons and entities;
(d) Recommend implementing legislation, including criminal penalties and civil remedies;
(e) Conduct national public engagement on corporate personhood, including hearings and a public comment period;
(f) Review taxation and anti-capture mechanisms and recommend reforms;
(g) Draft model frameworks for non-extractive, purpose-driven entities;
(h) Consult with State, Tribal, civil society, labor, business, and human rights stakeholders.

Sec. 3. Reporting and Submission.
(a) The Commission shall submit a final report to the President and Congress no later than one year after the date of this order.
(b) The report shall include proposed constitutional text, legal and historical basis, public engagement findings, taxation recommendations, and draft implementing legislation.
(c) The President shall transmit the proposed amendment to Congress with a request for prompt consideration and submission to the States.

Sec. 4. Administration and Support.
(a) The Attorney General shall provide administrative support, staffing, and resources to the extent permitted by law.
(b) Federal departments and agencies shall cooperate with Commission information requests as authorized by law.
(c) Members serve without compensation but may receive travel expenses as authorized by law.

Sec. 5. General Provisions.
(a) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair the authority of the Department of Justice to enforce existing laws.

Sec. 6. Effective Date.
This order is effective immediately from date below.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of January 2029.

Signed,
Vincent Cordova
President of the United States, 2028