JANUARY 21, 2010 — WASHINGTON, DC — This morning in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the US Supreme Court overturned the ban on corporate and union independent expenditures in federal elections. This opinion will have a major impact on the 2010 elections. Corporations will now be able to spend their corporate treasury money to advocate the election or defeat of federal candidates. 

Nonprofit groups may also be able to benefit from this decision — as they may have more flexibility to participate in federal campaigns. 

These expenditures must still be made independent of the candidate’s campaign and will have to be disclosed under existing regulations.

Further information on the scope of the Court’s opinion will be coming soon. For immediate information please contact Craig Engle, the head of the Arent Fox Political Law Group at 202-775-5791 or Brett Kappel at 202-857-6494 

Craig Engle
engle.craig@arentfox.com
202.213.1311

Brett G. Kappel
kappel.brett@arentfox.com
202.857.6494