From USAFacts · · 1m 10s
Citizens United v. FEC Definition
2010 Supreme Court ruling ended federal limits on corporate and union political spending.
In brief
2010 Supreme Court ruling ended federal limits on corporate and union political spending. The 2010 Citizens United ruling removed federal limits on independent political spending by corporations and labor unions. Originally reported by USAFacts.
Quick answers
- What is Citizens United v. FEC?
- The 2010 Supreme Court case struck down federal limits on independent political spending by corporations and labor unions.
- What is an independent expenditure?
- Money spent on ads or messages supporting or opposing a candidate without campaign coordination.
- How did Citizens United challenge the law?
- Citizens United made a film about Hillary Clinton in 2008 and sued the FEC after it classified the film as a campaign ad.
- What did the Supreme Court rule?
- The Court struck down the ban on corporate and union political spending, calling it speech protected by the First Amendment.
- What changed after the ruling?
- Corporations and unions can now spend their own money on political ads without coordination with candidates.
What is Citizens United v. FEC?
The 2010 Supreme Court case struck down federal limits on independent political spending by corporations and labor unions.
What is an independent expenditure?
Money spent on ads or messages supporting or opposing a candidate without campaign coordination.
How did Citizens United challenge the law?
Citizens United made a film about Hillary Clinton in 2008 and sued the FEC after it classified the film as a campaign ad.
What did the Supreme Court rule?
The Court struck down the ban on corporate and union political spending, calling it speech protected by the First Amendment.
What changed after the ruling?
Corporations and unions can now spend their own money on political ads without coordination with candidates.
What happened next?
The ruling led to the creation of super PACs, which accept unlimited contributions from individuals and corporations.
Here's the gist
The 2010 Citizens United ruling removed federal limits on independent political spending by corporations and labor unions.
