Mccutcheon struck down the limit on the total amount that one wealthy donor is permitted to contribute. Supreme court case in which the court ruled that campaign donations can be considered a form of free speech protected by the first amendment to the u. Campaign finance regulation constitutional law freedom of speech tweet facebook. The case involved whether congress had the right to limit the total amount of donations an individual can make, at the federal level, in an election cycle. In defense of mccutcheon v federal election commission by. Americans believe their elected representatives are more responsive to financial supporters than to constitu. Fec legal information institute cornell university. There is no right, more basic in our democracy than the right to participate in electing our political leaders. On appeal from the united states district court for the district of columbia. The decision held that section 441 of the federal election campaign act feca, which imposed a limit on contributions an individual can make over a twoyear pe.
William mccutcheon 18701949, wales international rugby. I have the announcement this morning in case 12536, mccutcheon v. The lawsuit challenged fec restrictions on the aggregate amount of donations to candidates in federal elections and to national political parties. He wished to donate more in amounts that would be permissible under the base limit but would violate the aggregate limit. On april 2, 2014, the supreme court issued a ruling in mccutcheon v. Fec supreme court challenge to aggregate contribution limits could radically reshape the financing of federal elections on october 8, 20, the u. Citizens united found that associations, corporations, and labor unions may not be prevented from making independent expenditures in connection with elections. Apr 15, 2014 on april 2, 2014, the supreme court issued a ruling in mccutcheon v. Commission fec or commission advance notice of proposed rulemaking anprm issued on october 17, 2014 notice 201412. By a vote of 54, the court ruled that the biennial aggregate limits are unconstitutional under the first amendment. Fec, a challenge to the aggregate contribution limits. Fec, lawyers for the petitioners speak to reporters and answered questions on. Mccutcheon and the other plaintiffs sued the federal election commission, arguing that the aggregate limit violated the first amendment by failing to serve a cognizable government interest and being prohibitively low.
The court heard arguments tuesday in the case of mccutcheon v. Plaintiff shaun mccutcheon, an alabama businessman and former member of the republican national committee, challenged that a biennial limit on overall individual contributions infringed upon a donors first amendment rights. Argued march 24, 2009reargued september 9, 2009 decided january 21, 2010. Federal election commission arose in june 2012 when shaun mccutcheon, an alabama businessman, and the republican national committee rnc, which manages the affairs of the national republican party, challenged fecas aggregate limits in u. Federal election commission challenges the constitutionality of federal limits on the total an individual can contribute to federal candidates, political parties, and political action committees pacs.
Federal election commission fec chairman lee goodman talks about how the supreme courts mccutcheon v. The fec counters that mccutcheons argument, that the first amendment prohibits the imposition of aggregate contribution limits, is foreclosed by the courts holding in buckley v. Brief for appellant shaun mccutcheon, supra note 6, at 12. Federal election commission appeal from the united states district court for the district of columbia no. Valeo 1976, the supreme court held that limits on contributions implicate fundamental first amendment interests, but that such limits may be imposed as long as they are closely. Why mccutcheon decision is scarier than citizens united with landmark decision handed down today, heres what to know about mccutcheon v. Jul 11, 2017 the court heard arguments tuesday in the case of mccutcheon v. Election commission represented the most important election law decision since citizens united v. The supreme court on wednesday struck down limits in federal law on the overall campaign contributions the biggest individual donors may make to.
Shaun mccutcheon, a wealthy political donor, and the republican national committee contend that the. The american constitution society acs takes no position on specific legal or policy initiatives. Brief of the cato institute as amicus curiae in support of plaintiffsappellants. On april 2, 2014, the supreme court struck down the aggregate limits, holding that the aggregate limits did not meaningfully prevent. Perfect for the life long learner, students of american government and the cray cray on the internets. On april 2, 2014, the supreme court struck down the aggregate limits, holding that the aggregate limits did not. In october of 20, the supreme court heard oral arguments in mccutcheon v. Introduction the first amendment of the united states constitution protects a persons right to political association as well as political expression.
Supreme court in the campaign finance case of mccutcheon v. Fec that struck down the aggregate limits on the amount an individual may contribute during a twoyear period to all federal candidates, parties and political action committees combined. More importantly, this will shift the balance of power even further toward wealthy donors and away from ordinary citizens. Nabpac urges the commission to recommend to congress that the limit on indexed for inflation.
Fec, lawyers for the petitioners speak to reporters and answered questions on the steps of the. Fec, in which plaintiffs shaun mccutcheon and the republican national committee are seeking to overturn aggregate limits for. Supreme court invalidated provisions of the federal election campaign act feca and the bipartisan campaign reform act bcra that imposed aggregate, or total, limits on contributions to political candidates and other contributions to party committees. Fec is a supreme court case in which a narrow 54 majority struck down the limit on the total. Oct 08, 20 mccutcheon and the rnc argue that aggregate limits are unconstitutional because they place substantial burdens on an individuals first amendment rights. Review the latest campaign finance decision to roll out of the supreme court. Shaun mccutcheon, a wealthy political donor, and the republican national committee contend that the limits on political donations are. A few months after the buckley court handed down its decision, congress amended the feca to distinguish 1 between contributions by persons and contributions by multicandidate political committees, and 2 among contributions to candidates and. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Invalidation of the aggregate limits would multiply candidatetocandidate contributions and reinvigorate the. Supreme court of the united states syllabus citizens united v. On april 1, 2014, the court struck down these aggregate limits as failing to advance the accepted government interest in preventing quid pro quo corruption or the appearance thereof, and therefore impermissibly burdening first amendment rights. Audio transcription for opinion announcement april 02, 2014 part 2 in mccutcheon v.
Apr 16, 2014 federal election commission fec chairman lee goodman talks about how the supreme courts mccutcheon v. Morrison october 2014 all expressions of opinion are those of the author or authors. The brennan center is a nonpartisan public policy and law institute that focuses on fundamental issues of democracy and justice. Shaun mccutcheon, american businessman and republican activist, plaintiff of mccutcheon v. Valeo,1 the supreme court subjected limits on political contributions to a lower level of constitutional scrutiny than limits on political expenditures. At that time, fecas aggregate limits for twoyear election cycles. Supreme court will hear oral argument in mccutcheon v. In defense of mccutcheon v federal election commission. Fec,1 the supreme court held that the current aggregate limit on the total amount of money that an individual may contribute to all federal candidates, parties, and. The decision held that section 441 of the federal election campaign act feca, which imposed a limit on contributions an individual can make over a twoyear period to national party and federal candidate committees, is unconstitutional. Mccutcheon v fec is a federal lawsuit that was argued before the u. Legal director, center for competitive politics, alexandria, virginia.
Federal election commission fec is the landmark 2014 u. The supreme court on wednesday struck down limits in federal law on the overall campaign contributions the biggest individual donors may. Federal campaign finance laws previously limited contributions to a single candidate or committee, but also imposed limits on the amount that could be contributed to all candidates and committees. Fec, in which plaintiffs shaun mccutcheon and the republican national committee are. In the 20112012 election cycle, appellant mccutcheon contributed to 16 different federal candidates, complying with the base limits applicable to each.