Institute For Free Speech

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 Urges Sixth Circuit to Protect Free Political Speech in the Form of Coordinated Political Party Expenditures

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March 12, 2024   •  By IFS Staff   •  ,

The brief argues that limits on such expenditures violate the First Amendment because the rule is not narrowly tailored to prevent quid pro quo ...

State Contribution Limits Report
March 11, 2024   •  By Alec Greven   •  , ,

This comprehensive report examines the limits that all 50 states place on individual contributions to campaigns for major elected offices.

Statement of Bradley A. Smith and David Keating before the 2023 Kansas Special Committee on Governmental Ethics Reform, Campaign Finance Law
October 5, 2023   •  By Brad Smith and David Keating   •  , , , ,

Statement of Bradley A. Smith, Chairman, Institute for Free Speech; Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Professor of Law, Capital University Law School and ...

Report on Inflation Adjustments to State Contribution Limits
September 19, 2023   •  By Alec Greven   •  , ,

Failure to protect campaign contribution limits from inflation harms free political speech.

Unconstitutional Contribution Limits Repealed in Maine
June 27, 2023   •  By IFS Staff   •  ,

An unfair and unconstitutional system that curtailed political speech rights for Maine legislators and donors alike has come to an end, thanks in part ...

Alec Greven: Protecting democracy, or gagging businesses?
June 9, 2023   •  By Alec Greven   •  , ,

Protecting democracy, or gagging businesses?

Laurel Libby Sues to Strike Down Unconstitutional Restrictions on Political Speech

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May 31, 2023   •  By IFS Staff   •  ,

A recent change to Maine law creates an unfair and unconstitutional system that gives even more influence to the most powerful political leaders and ...

Do States with Fewer Campaign Finance Regulations Have More Corruption?
May 24, 2023   •  By Alec Greven   •  , , ,

New research finds that states ranking highly for free political expression are not highly ranked states for corruption. In fact, states that have the ...

LTE: We shouldn’t be limited in pooling our money in political speech
April 21, 2023   •  By David Keating   •  , ,

Your recent editorial (“Ways to combat dark money in Massachusetts politics,” Opinion, April 13) missed the mark in citing Attorney General Maura Healey for not advancing ...

Comments to the FEC Regarding Advisory Opinion Request 2022-12 (Ready for Ron)
August 30, 2022   •  By Gary Lawkowski   •  ,

RE: Advisory Opinion Request 2022-12 (Ready for Ron) Dear Commissioners: The Institute for Free Speech[1] submits this comment in support of Draft B in ...

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