History
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) was passed in 1971, this law limited the amount of financing put into a federal election. FECA demanded that candidates and their political action committees make their donations limited and fully declared. FECA regulates the funding of presidential elections by limiting how much an organization, group, or individual can contribute to that candidate. It limited political contributions by a group or individual to $1,000, a political action committee to $5,000 and this is for a candidate per election. FECA was established because it evened out the playing field for candidates. Candidates who the lacked the sufficient money to run successfully would not have that problem anymore. Those who were significantly wealthier will be able to use as much of their own money, but will not be able to receive more than what is allowed by the act.
In 1975, Senator James L. Buckley, Eugene McCarthy, and others filed a suit in the U.S. District Court. Buckley was a Presidential candidate and McCarthy was the former Senator of Minnesota. The plaintiffs accused FECA of being unconstitutional and targeting the six member commission of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) because of how they were appointed. The plaintiffs argued that FECA abused their First Amendment right of free speech. The district court approved the accuracy of their claim and sent the case to the court of appeals. The court of appeals decided that almost all portions of FECA was constitutional and also decided that the appointment of the members in FEC was also constitutional. Buckley and McCarthy filed an appeal with the Supreme Court 8 months after their initial action to bring the lawsuit up to the district court.
In 1975, Senator James L. Buckley, Eugene McCarthy, and others filed a suit in the U.S. District Court. Buckley was a Presidential candidate and McCarthy was the former Senator of Minnesota. The plaintiffs accused FECA of being unconstitutional and targeting the six member commission of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) because of how they were appointed. The plaintiffs argued that FECA abused their First Amendment right of free speech. The district court approved the accuracy of their claim and sent the case to the court of appeals. The court of appeals decided that almost all portions of FECA was constitutional and also decided that the appointment of the members in FEC was also constitutional. Buckley and McCarthy filed an appeal with the Supreme Court 8 months after their initial action to bring the lawsuit up to the district court.
"Buckley Et Al. v. Valeo - ACLU - ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://aclu.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=421>.
"FEC Litigation - Court Case Abstracts - B." FEC Litigation - Court Case Abstracts - B. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://www.fec.gov/law/litigation_CCA_B.shtml>.
"Use Knox V. SEIU to Attack Money in Politics." The Progressive Cynic. 5 Feb. 2013. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://theprogressivecynic.com/2013/02/05/use-knox-v-seiu-to- attack-money-in-politics/>.
"FEC Litigation - Court Case Abstracts - B." FEC Litigation - Court Case Abstracts - B. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://www.fec.gov/law/litigation_CCA_B.shtml>.
"Use Knox V. SEIU to Attack Money in Politics." The Progressive Cynic. 5 Feb. 2013. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://theprogressivecynic.com/2013/02/05/use-knox-v-seiu-to- attack-money-in-politics/>.