Citizens United v. FEC

Definition

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 2010 that ruled corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns, as it equates money with free speech under the First Amendment. This decision significantly impacted campaign finance by allowing the creation of Super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited funds to influence elections without direct coordination with candidates.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The ruling in Citizens United v. FEC stated that limiting independent expenditures for political communications by corporations and unions violated the First Amendment.
2. Following this decision, Super PACs emerged, allowing for unprecedented financial influence in U.S. elections as they could collect unlimited contributions from individuals and organizations.
3. The case sparked significant public debate about the role of money in politics and concerns over potential corruption and the influence of wealthy donors on the electoral process.
4. The decision overturned previous regulations established by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), which sought to limit the influence of money in politics.
5. Citizens United v. FEC has been criticized for increasing the power of special interest groups in politics and for creating an environment where elections can be heavily influenced by a small number of wealthy individuals or corporations.

Review Questions

• How did the ruling in Citizens United v. FEC alter the landscape of campaign finance in the U.S.?
  • The ruling in Citizens United v. FEC fundamentally changed campaign finance by allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns, viewing such spending as a form of protected speech under the First Amendment. This led to the rise of Super PACs, which can raise vast amounts of money from various sources to influence elections independently. Consequently, this shift has created a new dynamic in political funding, increasing both the financial stakes in elections and the influence of wealthy donors on candidates.
• Discuss the implications of Super PACs that arose from the Citizens United decision on democratic processes.
  • Super PACs have significant implications for democratic processes as they enable individuals and organizations to exert massive financial influence over elections without limits. This can lead to an imbalance in political representation where candidates who can attract large donations may dominate media coverage and voter outreach efforts. Critics argue that this undermines the principle of equal voice in democracy, as wealthier entities have a disproportionate ability to shape public discourse and electoral outcomes.
• Evaluate how Citizens United v. FEC has influenced public perception regarding corruption and fairness in elections.
  • Citizens United v. FEC has heavily influenced public perception regarding corruption and fairness in elections by raising concerns about the overwhelming power of money in politics. Many view the decision as exacerbating existing inequalities where wealthy individuals and corporations can sway election outcomes through massive financial contributions. This perception has sparked widespread debates about campaign finance reform and calls for greater transparency in political donations, highlighting fears that democracy is compromised when financial interests outweigh the voices of ordinary voters.

Related terms

Super PAC: A type of political action committee that can raise and spend unlimited sums of money to advocate for or against political candidates, as long as it operates independently and does not coordinate directly with candidates.

Political Action Committee (PAC): An organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, typically representing business, labor, or ideological interests.

First Amendment: The part of the United States Constitution that protects freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition, which was central to the arguments in Citizens United v. FEC regarding free speech.