1. Citizens United v Federal Election Commission JOSHUA EASTER

2. Who are these people?  Plaintiff Citizens United represented by Theodore B. Olson  Defendant Federal Election Commission represented by Malcolm L. Stewart 1

3. What do they want?  Citizens United wanted to broadcast the movie Hillary: The Movie on DirecTV within the 30 day period before a primary election on the basis of freedom of speech. 2

4. When did this all happen?  Was brought to the Supreme Court on March 24, 2009  Was reargued on September 9, 2009  Was decided January 24, 2010 3

5. Where did it start?  Started in the United States District Court  Moved to Court of Appeals  Ended up in Robert’s Court 4

6. Why was it seen by the court?  It brought up a legitimate issue of law questioning the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution  This is the reason for which we have a Supreme Court and it is only right that they chose to take this case 5

7. What was the outcome? Pt. 1  First argument was whether or not Hillary: The Movie could be published  5-4 vote in favor of FEC  Shot down as it reveals matters of government interests 6

8. What Was the Outcome? Pt. 2  Second argument of whether or not corporations have the rights of individuals in the matter of free speech  5-4 vote in favor of Citizens United  Determines that citizens and corporations have the same status under the law 7

9. Downfalls  This allows people like George Soros and the Koch Brothers to influence government even more just by pulling out their wallet. 8

10. Downfalls Cont.  People and corporations can now take advantage of this to warp the system further.  http://www.cc.com/video-clips/av6bvx/the-colbert-report-colbert- super-pac---coordination-resolution-with-jon-stewart http://www.cc.com/video-clips/av6bvx/the-colbert-report-colbert- super-pac---coordination-resolution-with-jon-stewart 9

11. Why is it so important?  Brought an answer to the question of whether or not corporations have the same rights as individuals  This also brings about the question of whether or not it is legal for third parties to involve themselves in campaigns 10

12. Works Cited  Pictures on Slide 6:  http://zfacts.com/koch-brothers http://zfacts.com/koch-brothers  http://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/time100powergivers/article/0,28804,1616375_1615711_ 1615683,00.html http://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/time100powergivers/article/0,28804,1616375_1615711_ 1615683,00.html  Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech. "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission." Oyez. https://www.oyez.org/cases/2008/08-205 (accessed November 28, 2015).  "Citizens United Decision Profoundly Affects Political Landscape." Opensecrets RSS. May 5, 2011. Accessed December 4, 2015. http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/05/citizens-united-decision- profoundly-affects-political-landscape/.  "FEC Litigation - Court Case Abstracts - C." FEC Litigation - Court Case Abstracts - C. Accessed December 1, 2015. http://www.fec.gov/law/litigation_CCA_C.shtml.http://www.fec.gov/law/litigation_CCA_C.shtml  Levy, Gabrielle. "How Citizens United Has Changed Politics In 5 Years." US News. January 21, 2015. Accessed November 29, 2015. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/01/21/5-years-later- citizens-united-has-remade-us-politics.  Stevens, J. "CITIZENS UNITED v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMM’N." CITIZENS UNITED v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMM’N. March 24, 2009. Accessed November 27, 2015. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/08-205.ZX.html. 11