Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission

Attribute	Citizens United	Federal Election Commission
Year Established	2010	1975
Main Purpose	Advocacy for political candidates and issues	Regulation of campaign finance laws
Legal Status	Non-profit organization	Government agency
Key Court Case	Citizens United v. FEC	Buckley v. Valeo

Citizens United

Citizens United is a conservative nonprofit organization that advocates for limited government and free markets. The organization was at the center of a landmark Supreme Court case in 2010, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which ultimately led to significant changes in campaign finance laws. Citizens United argued that restrictions on political spending by corporations and unions violated the First Amendment right to free speech.

One of the key attributes of Citizens United is its belief in the importance of protecting the rights of individuals and organizations to engage in political speech. The organization believes that restrictions on political spending infringe upon these rights and hinder the ability of individuals and groups to participate in the political process. Citizens United has been a vocal advocate for campaign finance reform that allows for greater transparency and accountability in political spending.

Another attribute of Citizens United is its focus on promoting conservative values and policies. The organization has been a strong supporter of Republican candidates and causes, and has worked to advance conservative principles through its advocacy and legal efforts. Citizens United has been involved in numerous legal battles over campaign finance laws and regulations, often challenging restrictions on political spending and advocating for greater freedom in political speech.

Federal Election Commission

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that oversees and enforces campaign finance laws in the United States. The FEC was established in 1975 in response to concerns about the influence of money in politics and the need for greater transparency and accountability in campaign spending. The agency is responsible for enforcing federal campaign finance laws, including the disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures.

One of the key attributes of the FEC is its role in regulating and enforcing campaign finance laws to ensure fair and transparent elections. The agency is tasked with monitoring campaign contributions and expenditures, as well as enforcing laws that govern the financing of political campaigns. The FEC works to prevent corruption and undue influence in the political process by enforcing rules that limit the amount of money that can be contributed to candidates and political parties.

Another attribute of the FEC is its bipartisan structure, with six commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The FEC is designed to be a neutral and impartial arbiter of campaign finance laws, with commissioners representing both major political parties. This bipartisan structure is intended to ensure that the agency operates in a fair and nonpartisan manner, free from political influence.

Comparison

• Citizens United is a conservative nonprofit organization that advocates for limited government and free markets, while the FEC is an independent regulatory agency that oversees and enforces campaign finance laws.
• Citizens United believes in protecting the rights of individuals and organizations to engage in political speech, while the FEC is responsible for regulating and enforcing campaign finance laws to ensure fair and transparent elections.
• Citizens United focuses on promoting conservative values and policies, while the FEC operates in a bipartisan manner with commissioners representing both major political parties.
• Citizens United has been involved in legal battles over campaign finance laws, while the FEC is responsible for enforcing federal campaign finance laws and monitoring campaign contributions and expenditures.