Federal Election Commission v. NCPAC

Media Items

Oral Argument

Expanded View

Download MP3

Advocates

Charles N. Steele (Argued the cause for the Federal Election Commission)

Robert R. Sparks, Jr. (Argued the cause for the appellants)

Steven B. Feirson (Argued the cause for the Democratic Party of the United States)

Case Basics

Docket No.:

83-1032

Appellee:

NCPAC

Appellant:

Federal Election Commission

Consolidation:

No. 83-1122

Decided By:

Burger Court (1981-1986)

Opinion:

470 U.S. 480 (1985)

Argued:

Wednesday, November 28, 1984

Decided:

Monday, March 18, 1985

Issues:

First Amendment, Campaign Spending

Cite this page

The Oyez Project, Federal Election Commission v. NCPAC , 470 U.S. 480 (1985)
available at: (http://oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1984/1984_83_1032)

Facts of the Case:

In 1975, the National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC) was accused by both the Democratic Party of the United States and the Federal Election Commission of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act. The Act stipulated that independent political action committees could not spend more than $1,000 to support the election of a presidential candidate. This case was decided together with Democratic Party v. NCPAC.

Question:

Did the law violate the NCPAC's First Amendment rights of free speech and association?

Conclusion:

Yes. The Court held that the expenditures prohibited by the Federal Election Campaign Act were "at the core of the First Amendment" and could not be restricted by the government. The Court rejected the notion that the PACs' form of organization diminished their entitlement to First Amendment protection. The Court drew a distinction between contributions to candidates--which were open to corruption--and contributions to independent organizations in support of candidates.

Decisions

Decision: 7 votes for NCPAC, 2 vote(s) against
Legal provision: Amendment 1: Speech, Press, and Assembly

Sort by Seniority