Americans may disagree on a lot of things, but most of us agree about one:

Money has far too much influence in our politics. Billionaires and special interests are drowning out the voices of ordinary Americans.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Our founders wanted us to have a government of the people. Congress, states and local governments could set reasonable limits on how much could be spent to influence elections.

But in 2010, the Supreme Court --- through its Citizens United decision --- opened the floodgates. The ruling allowed corporations, unions, and anonymous PACs to spend unlimited amounts to influence elections. In effect, it silenced the people and put our democracy up for sale to the highest bidder.

Since then, Super PACs and “dark money” groups have bombarded us with attack ads --- funded by sources often hidden from public view.

But corporations aren’t people. And elected officials should answer to voters, not just wealthy donors.

Today, billionaires can (and do) spend millions --- even hundreds of millions --- to buy elections and politicians, often without the public knowing where the money comes from. It’s outrageous. It’s un-American.

Over 75% of us see big money in politics as a huge problem, but most of us feel powerless to change it.

But we CAN change it.

The founders gave us the power to amend the Constitution. It isn’t easy, because Constitutional amendments require two-thirds vote in Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the states. But it’s been done 27 times, and it’s happening again NOW.

Thanks to a grassroots nonpartisan movement called American Promise, Utah recently became the 23rd state to urge Congress to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to restore our power to regulate election spending. Campaigns are underway in the other states --- including Florida.

The proposed “American Promise Amendment” is plain and simple:

• Section 1. We the People have compelling sovereign interests in the freedom of speech, representative self-government, federalism, the integrity of the electoral process, and the political equality of natural persons.

• Section 2. Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to forbid Congress or the States, within their respective jurisdictions, from reasonably regulating and limiting contributions and spending in campaigns, elections, or ballot measures.

• Section 3. Congress and the States shall have the power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation and may distinguish between natural persons and artificial entities, including by prohibiting artificial entities from raising and spending money in campaigns, elections, or ballot measures.

To join the cause, visit AmericanPromise.net. Check out the FAQs for answers to your questions. Click on your state on the interactive map to find out how you can get involved.

We --- the people --- can make this happen.

(Nonpartisan columnist Joe Smyth is the author of Fixing America’s Broken Politics.)