What did Citizens United v. FEC decide about corporate political spending?

• A. Corporate direct spending in campaigns
• B. Corporate independent political spending
• C. Individual employee contributions
• D. Corporate charitable donations

Answer: (B)

Money spent by corporations on political messages is protected speech under the First Amendment when it is independent of a candidate’s campaign. Citizens United v. FEC held that laws limiting corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in elections are unconstitutional. So, corporations can spend unlimited amounts to advocate for or against candidates as long as their spending isn’t coordinated with a campaign. This ruling does not allow direct corporate contributions to candidates or parties, and it isn’t about individual employee contributions or charitable donations, which involve different rules and contexts.