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Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Definition

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is a landmark 2010 Supreme Court ruling which held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment. The decision significantly impacted the role of interest groups in elections by allowing them to spend unlimited sums on political campaigns.

Related terms

Super PACs: Political action committees that may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations, and individuals to finance independent expenditures but are not permitted to coordinate directly with parties or candidates.

Campaign Finance: Refers to the fundraising and spending activities carried out by candidates and organizations for the purpose of influencing electoral outcomes.

First Amendment: Part of the Bill of Rights that protects freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances

"Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission" appears in:

Subjects (1)

  • AP US Government

Study guides (1)

  • Intro to Political Science - 8.2 What Are the Pros and Cons of Interest Groups?

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

About Us

About Fiveable

Blog

Careers

Code of Conduct

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

CCPA Privacy Policy

Resources

Cram Mode

AP Score Calculators

Study Guides

Practice Quizzes

Glossary

Cram Events

Merch Shop

Crisis Text Line

Help Center

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.