Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/558bv.pdf
Page Number: 482.0

Cite as: 558 U. S. 310 (2010) 

321 

Opinion of the Court 

§ 441b  to  prohibit  any  “electioneering  communication”  as 
well.  2  U. S. C.  § 441b(b)(2)  (2006  ed.).  An  electioneering 
communication  is  deﬁned  as  “any  broadcast,  cable,  or  satel­
lite communication” that “refers to a clearly identiﬁed candi­
date for Federal ofﬁce” and is made within 30 days of a pri­
mary  or  60  days  of  a  general  election.  § 434(f)(3)(A).  The 
Federal  Election  Commission’s  (FEC)  regulations  further 
deﬁne  an  electioneering  communication  as  a  communication 
that  is  “publicly  distributed.”  11  CFR  § 100.29(a)(2)  (2009). 
“In  the  case  of  a  candidate  for  nomination  for  President . . .  
publicly  distributed  means”  that  the  communication  “[c]an 
be  received  by  50,000  or  more  persons  in  a  State  where 
a  primary  election  .  .  .  is  being  held  within  30  days.” 
§ 100.29(b)(3)(ii)(A).  Corporations  and  unions  are  barred 
from using their general treasury funds for express advocacy 
or electioneering communications.  They may establish, how­
ever,  a  “separate  segregated  fund”  (known  as  a  political 
action  committee,  or  PAC)  for  these  purposes.  2  U. S. C. 
§ 441b(b)(2).  The  moneys  received  by  the  segregated  fund 
are limited to donations from stockholders and employees of 
the  corporation  or,  in  the  case  of  unions,  members  of  the 
union.  Ibid. 

C 

Citizens United wanted to make Hillary available through 
video-on-demand  within  30  days  of  the  2008  primary  elec­
tions.  It  feared,  however,  that  both  the  ﬁlm  and  the  ads 
would  be  covered  by  § 441b’s  ban  on  corporate-funded  in­
dependent  expenditures,  thus  subjecting  the  corporation 
to  civil  and  criminal  penalties  under  § 437g.  In  December 
2007,  Citizens  United  sought  declaratory  and  injunctive  re­
lief  against  the  FEC.  It  argued  that  (1)  § 441b  is  uncon­
stitutional  as  applied  to  Hillary;  and  (2)  BCRA’s  disclaimer 
and disclosure requirements, BCRA §§ 201 and 311, 116 Stat. 
88, 105, are unconstitutional as applied to Hillary and to the 
three ads for the movie.