Citizens United v. FEC

Who is Citizens United? What were they trying to do?

• Citizens United is a nonprofit

• They wanted to film a movie criticizing Hillary during the 2008 election, but faced restrictions on political spending and campaign finance laws.

• they challenged the limits on political spending by corporations and unions

What was the constitutional issue in question?

Could the government restrict independent political expenditures by corporations and unions under the First Amendment?

What was the decision/holding

The Supreme Court ruled that restrictions on independent expenditures by corporations and unions violate the First Amendment, allowing unlimited spending in elections.

What was their reasoning

Political spending is a form of protected free speech under the First Amendment, and that the government cannot limit expenditures based on the speaker's identity.