Full name: Buckley v. Valeo
Harry BlackmunWilliam J. Brennan, Jr.Thurgood MarshallLewis F. Powell, Jr.William RehnquistPotter StewartByron WhiteWarren E. BurgerJohn Paul Stevens Note: Court justices do not represent any political party. The color of each judge's name represents the political party of the president who appointed the judge.
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Understanding Election Campaign Financing
Federal Election Campaign Act
1971 (S-382)
Summary
The Supreme Court ruled that Congress cannot limit the amount of money Congressional candidates can spend on their campaigns.
What was the case about?
In 1975 Sen. James L. Buckley and Sen. Eugene McCarthy sued Francis R. Valeo - Secretary of the Senate and ex officio member of the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).
They charged that the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act were unconstitutional.
How the Supreme Court ruled
The decision...
o Upheld contribution limits, saying they serve the government's interest in safeguarding the integrity of elections.
o Overturned expenditure limits, saying that spending limits restrict the quantity of campaign speech by candidates. The court said that spending limits still could be imposed on candidates who accept public funding for their campaigns.
o Overturned expenditure limits, saying that spending limits restrict the quantity of campaign speech by candidates. The court said that spending limits still could be imposed on candidates who accept public funding for their campaigns.