Political Theory Project

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) was a landmark decision in which the Supreme Court held for the first time that corporations are protected in funding independent political broadcasts under the First Amendment. The case, which struck down a provision of the McCain Feingold Act, overrules two precedents and presents a major doctrinal shift in the realm of campaign finance.  Lawrence Lessig of Harvard Law School and Bradley Smith, former Chairman of the F.E.C., will discuss whether Citizens was rightly decided and what implications it will have for our nation's political discourse.

Photos by Peter Goldberg