Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

(noun)

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in 2010 in which the court held that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions.

Related Terms

Examples of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in the following topics:

  • Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

    • Citizens United v.
    • Federal Election Commission was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in 2010 in which the court held that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions.
    • Citizens United v.
    • Analyze the significance of the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v.
    • Federal Election Commission for campaign finance reform

  • PACs and Campaigns

    • In 2010, the United States Supreme Court held in Citizens United v.
    • Federal Election Commission that laws prohibiting corporate and union political expenditures were unconstitutional.
    • Citizens United made it legal for corporations and unions to spend from their general treasuries to finance independent expenditures, but did not alter the prohibition on direct corporate or union contributions to federal campaigns; those are still prohibited.
    • In 1971, Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA).
    • In 1974, Amendments to FECA defined how a PAC could operate and established the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to enforce the nation's campaign finance laws.

  • Interest Groups, Lobbyists, and PACs

    • Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations limit the amount of money PACs can donate to any one campaign or party, and there are limits to the amount of money they can receive from any one donor.
    • While PACs have existed since the 1940s, the 2010 SpeechNow.org v.
    • Federal Election Commission decision of the Supreme Court created a new form of PAC.
    • The SpeechNow.org case built on the decision in the Citizens United v.
    • Federal Election Commission case earlier in 2010, which held that the First Amendment right to free speech meant that legislatures could not limit independent political spending by corporations and unions.

  • Presidential Candidates

    • Elections may depend upon a candidate, or a person who is seeking presidential office, winning the popular vote.
    • The importance of financial resources cannot be underestimated when talking about United States presidential candidates.
    • The 2010 Supreme Court decision in the case of Citizens United v.
    • Federal Election Commission further paved the way for large campaign contributions by allowing unlimited contributions to so-called "super PACs," or political action committees that are not directly connected to candidates.
    • Constitution requires that candidates are natural-born U.S. citizens who are at least 35 years old at the time of election.

  • The Federal Election Campaign Act

    • The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is a United States federal law which increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns.
    • The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is a United States federal law which increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns.
    • The amendment also created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), an independent agency responsible for regulating campaign finance legislation .
    • The 1974 amendments also established the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to enforce the law, facilitate disclosure, and administer the public funding program.
    • In Buckley v.

  • Campaign Financing

    • Campaign finance in the United States refers to the process of financing electoral campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels.
    • Campaign finance in the United States refers to the process of financing electoral campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels.
    • At the federal level, campaign finance law is enacted by Congress and enforced by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), an independent federal agency.
    • Election campaigns run by candidates, candidate committees, interest groups or political parties
    • Efforts to educate citizens with regard to popular initiatives, ballot issues or referendums.

  • The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

    • The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 is a United States federal law amending the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 regulating the financing of political campaigns.
    • Federal Election Commission.
    • In McConnell v.
    • Federal Election Commission, the United States Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of most of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA).
    • In Federal Election Commission v.

  • Campaign Finance Reform

    • The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1972 required candidates to disclose sources of campaign contributions and campaign expenditures.
    • It was amended in 1974 with the introduction of statutory limits on contributions, and creation of the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
    • In 1971, Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act, requiring broad disclosure of campaign finance.
    • In 1974, fueled by public reaction to the Watergate Scandal, Congress passed amendments to the Act establishing a comprehensive system of regulation and enforcement, including public financing of presidential campaigns and creation of a central enforcement agency, the Federal Election Commission.
    • However, in 1976 Buckley v.

  • The General Election Campaign

    • In general elections citizens can actively participate in campaigning for their preferred political party.
    • The United States is unusual in that dozens of different offices are filled by election, from drain commissioner to the President of the United States.
    • Elections happen every year, on many different dates, and in many different areas of the country.
    • All federal elections including elections for the President and the Vice President, as well as elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, are partisan.
    • Major campaigns in the United States are often much longer than those in other democracies.

  • Regulating Campaign Finance

    • Campaign finance in the United States is the financing of electoral campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels.
    • Campaign finance in the United States is the financing of electoral campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels.
    • At the federal level, campaign finance law is enacted by Congress and enforced by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), an independent federal agency.
    • Although most campaign spending is privately financed, public financing is available for qualifying candidates for President of the United States during both the primaries and the general election.
    • Races for non-federal offices are governed by state and local law.