Corporate personhood was enshrined into law by the US Supreme Court decision which essentially says that corporations have the same rights as naturally occuring human beings. The difference is that all human beings eventually get old and eventually die. Corporations have the potential to last forever; although it must be noted that many do eventually die or are swallowed up by still bigger corporations. There are some corporations, however, such as the American Red Cross that live on for over 100 years and still exist today. This kind of longevity creates economic and political power that dwarfs all other persons, governments or groups. There was a time in US history when corporations were chartered by the several states for specific purposes and for a specific period of time.