🇺🇸 United States
🏛️ Constitutional Law
2010
Landmark Case
Supreme Court
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
U.S. Supreme Court
Case Details
Case Summary
Ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent expenditures for political campaigns by corporations, nonprofits, labor unions, and other associations.
Final Judgment / Ruling
5-4 ruling: corporations and other groups can make unlimited independent expenditures in elections as a form of protected speech.
Why This Case Matters
Transformed US campaign finance law by allowing unlimited political spending by corporations and outside groups, creating the era of Super PACs.