Contribution Limits: Caps on First Amendment Activity

January 1, 2018  •  By IFS Staff  •    •  

Contribution limits are monetary restrictions on the amount an individual or group can donate to a political actor – usually a candidate, political party, or political action committee. The Supreme Court first allowed limits on contributions in Buckley v. Valeo. The Court’s ruling acknowledged that contribution limits were a restriction on First Amendment activity, but allowed them on the theory…

Institute for Free Speech Encouraged by Supreme Court’s Skeptical Reception of Restrictions on Free Political Speech

December 9, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , , ,

Today’s Supreme Court oral argument in NRSC v. FEC ably illustrated that limits on coordinated political party expenditures violate the First Amendment

Free Speech Arguments – Can Congress Limit Coordination Between a Party and Its Candidates? (National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al. v. Federal Election Commission, et al.)

December 9, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , , , ,

National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al. v. Federal Election Commission, et al. argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on December 9, 2025.

Safe Affordable Georgia, Inc. v. James D. Kreyenbuhl, et al.

December 8, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , , ,

Because political spending is considered a form of political speech, the complaint argues that Georgia’s current system gives one candidate more speech rights than ...

Free Jamie Dimon (and His Employees)

November 24, 2025   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

The SEC’s ‘pay to play’ rule is an unconstitutional infringement on the right to participate in politics.

Free Speech Arguments – Can a California City Silence a Critic Through Targeted Campaign Finance Laws? (Moving Oxnard Forward, Inc. v. Lourdes Lopez)

September 9, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , ,

Moving Oxnard Forward, Inc. v. Lourdes Lopez, argued en banc before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on September 9, 2025.

Institute for Free Speech Urges SCOTUS to Strike Down Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits

September 9, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  ,

A new amicus brief in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC calls on the Supreme Court to reexamine government interference with campaign speech

Campaign Regulations Are Unconstitutional

July 31, 2025   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

The government has the power to administer elections, not to control speech about them.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Maine’s Question 1

July 15, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , ,

Judge Wolf grants permanent injunction, ruling that the law's contribution limit and disclosure provision for independent expenditure groups violate First Amendment rights

Moving Oxnard Forward, Inc. v. Lourdes Lopez

July 10, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , ,

The City of Oxnard in California crafted a campaign finance law to silence its most vocal critic, blatantly violating the First Amendment’s protection against ...

California City Law Unconstitutionally Silences Government Critics

July 10, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , ,

Amicus brief details the First Amendment violations of Oxnard’s contribution limits

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