McCutcheon v. FEC

Definition

McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission was a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 2014 that struck down aggregate limits on individual contributions to political campaigns, arguing that such limits violated the First Amendment's free speech protections. The decision allowed individuals to donate to as many candidates and political committees as they wish, without being restricted by a cap on total contributions, fundamentally altering the landscape of campaign finance and political advertising across various media platforms.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that aggregate contribution limits imposed by federal law violated the First Amendment, which protects free speech.
2. Before McCutcheon, individuals were restricted from donating more than a combined total of $123,200 to federal candidates and party committees over a two-year election cycle.
3. The ruling allowed wealthy donors to contribute to multiple candidates, potentially leading to an increase in the influence of money in politics.
4. The case was brought by Shaun McCutcheon, an Alabama businessman who challenged the limits after wanting to donate more freely to Republican candidates.
5. This decision furthered the trend established by Citizens United v. FEC, reinforcing the idea that spending money on political campaigns is a form of protected speech.

Review Questions

• How did the McCutcheon v. FEC decision alter the landscape of campaign finance in relation to individual contributions?
  • The McCutcheon v. FEC ruling significantly altered campaign finance by eliminating aggregate limits on individual contributions to political campaigns. This change allowed individuals to donate unlimited amounts to multiple candidates and political committees, increasing the potential influence of wealthy donors on elections. The ruling reinforced the view that financial contributions are a form of free speech protected by the First Amendment, fundamentally changing how political campaigns are funded.
• In what ways does McCutcheon v. FEC build upon previous decisions like Citizens United v. FEC regarding political spending?
  • McCutcheon v. FEC builds upon Citizens United v. FEC by further expanding the notion that spending money on political campaigns is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment. While Citizens United primarily addressed corporate spending in elections, McCutcheon targeted limits on individual contributions specifically. Together, these decisions have significantly weakened federal regulations on campaign finance, allowing for increased financial influence in politics and potentially leading to greater disparities in political power based on wealth.
• Evaluate the implications of McCutcheon v. FEC on political advertising and how it may affect voter perceptions and engagement.
  • The implications of McCutcheon v. FEC on political advertising are profound, as it allows for increased spending by individuals and entities on campaigns, which can lead to more aggressive and pervasive advertising strategies. This could result in voters being exposed to a greater volume of politically motivated ads across various media platforms, potentially shaping their perceptions of candidates based on their financial backing rather than policy positions or qualifications. The surge in financial contributions could also foster skepticism among voters about the integrity of political candidates and their independence from wealthy donors, possibly affecting overall voter engagement and trust in the electoral process.

Related terms

Citizens United v. FEC:

A landmark Supreme Court decision in 2010 that ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited under the First Amendment, significantly impacting campaign finance laws.

Super PACs: Political Action Committees that can raise unlimited sums of money from individuals, corporations, and unions to support or oppose political candidates, as long as they do not directly coordinate with the candidates' campaigns.

Federal Election Commission (FEC):

An independent regulatory agency created to enforce federal campaign finance laws, overseeing the disclosure of campaign finance information and the administration of public funding for presidential elections.