Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
Ep. 206

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Episode description

The text presents the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The case centered on the constitutionality of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act’s (BCRA) restrictions on corporate independent expenditures in political campaigns. The Court overturned key precedents, holding that corporations have the same First Amendment rights as individuals regarding political spending. While affirming BCRA’s disclaimer and disclosure requirements, the ruling significantly altered campaign finance law by removing limits on corporate independent expenditures. Dissenting opinions argued the decision disregarded important precedents, lacked sufficient evidence, and jeopardized the integrity of elections.