Citizens United v. FEC

Definition

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is a landmark Supreme Court case from 2010 that ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited under the First Amendment. This decision significantly reshaped the landscape of campaign finance, establishing that spending money to influence elections is a form of protected speech, thus allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on political advertising. The case has had lasting implications for the way campaigns are funded and how free speech is interpreted in the context of political activities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in Citizens United v. FEC overturned previous restrictions on independent expenditures by corporations and unions in political campaigns.
2. The ruling was based on the idea that money is a form of speech, thus protecting political spending under the First Amendment's freedom of speech clause.
3. Citizens United was a non-profit corporation that sought to air a film critical of then-Senator Hillary Clinton during the 2008 election cycle, which led to the legal challenge against FEC regulations.
4. Following this decision, there was a dramatic increase in political spending by outside groups and the rise of Super PACs, which can raise unlimited funds from individuals, corporations, and unions.
5. The case sparked significant debate about the influence of money in politics and whether it undermines democracy by giving wealthy individuals and organizations more power in elections.

Review Questions

• How did Citizens United v. FEC change the interpretation of free speech in relation to campaign finance?
  • The Citizens United v. FEC ruling fundamentally changed the interpretation of free speech by establishing that financial contributions to political campaigns are a form of protected speech under the First Amendment. This means that corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts on independent political broadcasts without facing government restrictions. As a result, this case broadened the scope of who can participate in political discourse through financial means and raised concerns about the potential for disproportionate influence by wealthy entities in elections.
• Evaluate the impact of Citizens United v. FEC on campaign finance regulations and the rise of Super PACs.
  • The impact of Citizens United v. FEC on campaign finance regulations has been profound, leading to the emergence of Super PACs as major players in electoral politics. Super PACs are able to raise unlimited funds from corporations, unions, and individuals for independent expenditures advocating for or against candidates. This has allowed for unprecedented levels of spending in elections, often resulting in campaigns being heavily influenced by large donations from a small number of wealthy donors or special interest groups, thereby challenging traditional notions of campaign finance limits.
• Analyze how Citizens United v. FEC has influenced public perception of democracy and political participation in recent years.
  • Citizens United v. FEC has significantly influenced public perception of democracy and political participation by raising concerns about the role of money in politics. Many argue that the decision has led to a system where elections are swayed by those with considerable financial resources, creating an uneven playing field where ordinary voters feel marginalized. This has sparked widespread discussions about democratic integrity and equity, prompting calls for reforms to campaign finance laws aimed at reducing corporate influence and increasing transparency in political donations.

Related terms

First Amendment:

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It prohibits Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely.

Super PACs: Super PACs, or independent expenditure-only committees, are organizations that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against political candidates, but cannot coordinate directly with candidates or political parties.

Political Action Committees (PACs): Political Action Committees are organizations that collect contributions from members and donate them to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation.