Understanding Citizens United

Citizens United v. FEC fundamentally changed the landscape of campaign finance in the U.S. by affirming that corporations can spend money independently to influence elections. This ruling stemmed from a case involving a nonprofit corporation that produced a film criticizing a political candidate, which the FEC attempted to regulate under campaign finance laws. The case raised questions about whether restrictions on corporate spending violated the First Amendment’s free speech protections. As a result, the decision established that independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, cannot be limited as there is no direct exchange or quid pro quo involved, making it a core precedent in discussions on campaign finance.