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Political Spending: Civic Engagement is Not a Threat to Democracy

January 1, 2018  •  By IFS Staff  •    •  

The First Amendment guarantees every American freedom of speech. That freedom includes the right to spend money on speech. Without money, a political group cannot buy ads, print fliers, organize protests, or hire staff. Short of shouting one’s opinions on a street corner, it takes money to spread a message. Recognizing this relationship, the Supreme Court has long prohibited the…

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 ...

United States v. Sittenfeld

August 14, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , ,

The Institute for Free Speech has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in the case United ...

Campaign Regulations Are Unconstitutional

July 31, 2025   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

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

Free Speech Arguments – Can States Ban Ballot Speech by Lawful Permanent Residents? (OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership v. Dave Yost)

July 23, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , ,

OPAWL - Building AAPI Feminist Leadership v. Dave Yost, et al., argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on July ...

Campaign Finance and Free Speech: The Extreme and the Mainstream

July 14, 2025   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

It is often suggested that the true test of one’s commitment to free speech and the First Amendment comes when one is faced with ...

Institute for Free Speech Applauds DOJ’s Decision Not to Defend Party Coordination Limits

May 20, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , , ,

The Solicitor General's position aligns with the Institute’s arguments that limits on coordinated political party expenditures violate the First Amendment

Despite the Hype, Campaign Cash Doesn’t Buy Elections

April 28, 2025   •  By Peter Russo   •  ,

This misconception has stubbornly dominated American political thinking for decades. Recent electoral contests have delivered the latest in a series of stunning repudiations of ...

Institute for Free Speech Urges Sixth Circuit to Revisit “Precedent-Setting Error” That Undermines Citizens United

April 24, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , , , ,

Its amicus brief argues the ruling provides governments a “roadmap to maneuver around the First Amendment”

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