Citizens United

Definition

Citizens United is a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 2010 that ruled corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns and independent expenditures. This decision reshaped the landscape of political advertising and campaigning by allowing for greater influence of money in politics, which raises important ethical considerations regarding transparency, accountability, and the potential for corruption.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Citizens United ruling overturned previous limitations on corporate and union spending in political campaigns established by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.
2. The decision was based on the First Amendment right to free speech, arguing that restricting independent expenditures from corporations and unions would violate this right.
3. As a result of Citizens United, Super PACs emerged as a major force in U.S. elections, allowing for massive influxes of money into political campaigns.
4. Critics argue that the ruling has led to an increase in negative advertising and a lack of transparency in campaign financing.
5. Supporters of the decision contend that it enhances political discourse by allowing more voices and perspectives to be heard in the electoral process.

Review Questions

• How did the Citizens United ruling impact the nature of political advertising and campaigning in the United States?
  • The Citizens United ruling significantly changed the landscape of political advertising by allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on campaign-related activities. This led to the rise of Super PACs, which could raise vast sums for supporting or opposing candidates. Consequently, political campaigns became more heavily influenced by large financial contributions, leading to increased negative advertising and concerns over transparency in funding sources.
• Evaluate the ethical implications of unlimited corporate spending in elections as a result of the Citizens United decision.
  • The ethical implications of unlimited corporate spending in elections include concerns about the integrity of democracy, as wealthier corporations can exert disproportionate influence over electoral outcomes. This situation raises questions about accountability and transparency since much of the spending can occur through Super PACs or dark money channels. Many worry this creates an uneven playing field where regular voters' voices are drowned out by financial power, ultimately challenging the principle of equal representation in democracy.
• Discuss the long-term consequences of the Citizens United decision on the political system and voter engagement.
  • The long-term consequences of the Citizens United decision could fundamentally alter the political system by entrenching a culture where money equals influence. This may lead to greater polarization as candidates cater to wealthy donors rather than constituents. Additionally, voter engagement may suffer; if citizens feel their votes are overshadowed by the financial power of corporations, they may become disillusioned and less likely to participate in elections. Ultimately, this could undermine public trust in democratic processes and institutions.

Related terms

Super PACs: Political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from individuals, corporations, and unions to advocate for or against political candidates.

Political Action Committee (PAC): An organization that collects and distributes funds to candidates, parties, or political causes, subject to limits on contributions.

Dark Money: Political spending by organizations that do not have to disclose their donors, making it difficult to trace the sources of funding for campaign-related activities.