Institute for Free Speech

The Institute for Free Speech (IFS), formerly called the Center for Competitive Politics, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formerly headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, and now in Washington, D.C.[1] IFS' mission is to "promote and defend the First Amendment rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government through strategic litigation, communication, activism, training, research, and education."[2]

Institute for Free Speech
Formation2005
FounderBradley A. Smith
TypeNonprofit
Location
Region
United States
Websitewww.ifs.org
Formerly called
Center for Competitive Politics

History

The Center for Competitive Politics was founded in 2005 by former Federal Election Commission Chairman Bradley A. Smith. Smith founded the organization with the goal of "challenging the current campaign finance system in both federal court and the court of public opinion."[3] In October 2017, the organization changed its name to the Institute for Free Speech.[4]

Activities

The Institute for Free Speech has been particularly active in criticizing campaign finance regulations, taxpayer-financed political campaigns, and restrictions on referendums and ballot initiatives. The organization publishes various studies and reports on campaign finance and political speech matters, and provides pro bono legal counsel to parties in suits challenging the constitutionality of campaign finance statutes. It has also defended the right of independent groups to participate freely in the electoral process.[5]

The organization represented the plaintiffs in SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission, the Court of Appeals decision that authorized the creation of Super PACs.[6]

In 2014, the Institute challenged California's requirement that nonprofit groups must turn over their donor lists to the state in order to receive a license to solicit contributions from residents of the state.[7]

The organization has stated its opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Congress more power to regulate political spending.[8] It has also opposed proposed Internal Revenue Service guidelines that would redefine tax rules for social welfare organizations that engage in political advocacy as a secondary activity.[9]

References
  1. Warren, Michael (2014-06-05). "The Disclosure Police Target Walmart". Weekly Standard. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  2. "About the Institute for Free Speech". Institute for Free Speech. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  3. Cummings, Jeanne (2008-08-12). "Conservatives plot on campaign finance". Politico. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  4. Leathle, Emma (November 1, 2017). "Congress Holds Hearings On Online Political Ads". HuffPost. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  5. "Center for Competitive Politics blog", CCP, Retrieved on 2009-07-10.
  6. "The Court Case That Led to the Creation of Super PACs". Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  7. "Give Us Your Donors, or Else". Wall Street Journal. 2014-07-22. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  8. Newlin Carney, Eliza (2014-07-02). "Hobby Lobby Ruling Fuels Amendment Push". Roll Call. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  9. Hicks, Josh (2014-06-18). "IRS to propose specific limits on nonprofits' political activities". Washington Post. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
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