McCutcheon v. FEC -- Supreme Court Strikes Down Aggregate Campaign Contribution Limits (2014-04-02)

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission to strike down biennial aggregate limits on how much an individual may contribute to all federal candidates, party committees, and PACs combined (previously capped at $117,000 for 2011-12). Chief Justice Roberts wrote the plurality opinion, joined by Scalia, Kennedy, and Alito. Justice Thomas concurred in the judgment, arguing all contribution limits are unconstitutional. Justice Breyer dissented, joined by Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, stating: Taken together with Citizens United, todays decision eviscerates our Nations campaign finance laws. The per-candidate base limits of $2,700 per election were left in place.