1. Citizens United vs. Federal Election Committee
By Megan Bridge

2. Congress shall make no law…
Congress shall make no law…. Abridging the freedom of speech… The First Amendment The United States Constitution

3. Federal Election Committee
Who They Are
Independent agency
What They Do
Watch over funding during elections
Enforce laws regarding financial contributions
Release information regarding campaign finances

4. Citizens United Who They Are What They Do
Conservative non-profit group
What They Do
Marketing products
Documentaries
Commercials
Advocate for citizen run government

5. Hillary: The Movie Produced by Citizens United in 2008
Revealed alleged indiscretions of Clinton
Citizens United wanted to air it before 2008 Democratic Primary
Federal government would not air it

6. Citizens United vs. FEC Case went to Supreme Court
5-4 decision in favor of Citizens United
Concurrence: Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Alito
Dissent: Breyer, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Stevens

7. Understand…
Prior to this decision, companies could not directly spend money supporting political candidates, though they had ways to getting around this.

8. Implications
Corporations now have the same rights as people regarding political free speech
Unlimited corporate spending in campaigns
Corporate donations now run campaigns
PACs and Super PACS have free reign to do as they please

9. What They Are PACs: Political Action Committees!
Raise and donate money to political candidates
Usually represent corporations
Prior to Citizens United vs. FEC, PACs were formed by individuals in companies to fund campaigns; however, NO funds from the corporation’s treasury could be used. Citizens United vs. FEC changed this.

10. Super PACs New type of PAC
Do not donate to individuals or political parties
Run independent ads in favor or against candidates
No restrictions on where the funds originate from
Not required to disclose donor source

11. Stephen Colbert
Realized the seriousness of the Citizens United vs. FEC decision
Decided to form his own Super PAC
Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow

12. Creation of Colbert’s Super PAC
March 30, 2011: FEC Chairman helped him file initial paperwork
June 30, 2011: FEC approved Colbert’s request
September 29, 2011: Created a shell company entitled Colbert Super PAC SHH Institute

13. Colbert Super PAC SHH Institute
Colbert was President, Secretary, Treasurer and the only board member
Donations are limitless and donor can remain a secret
Donations made to the Institute can be directly given to the Colbert Super PAC

14. It was revealed in the January 2012 FEC filing that Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow raised $1.02 million.

15. President of the United States of South Carolina
Colbert announced candidacy in January 2012
Signed over control of his Super PAC to Jon Stewart
Renamed the Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC
Ran ads before the South Carolina primary

16. Mitt Romney Ad

17. Dissolution of Super PAC
Disbanded November 12, 2012
Colbert created a second shell company
Donated funds from the first shell company to the second company with instructions regarding distribution
This enabled him to avoid disclosing where the money went even to the IRS

18. Almost $800,000 left in the account
Donated $125,000 each to 4 charities:
Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund
Team Rubicon
Habitat for Humanity
Yellow Ribbon Fund
The remaining money went to organizations dedicated to finance reform

19. Everything that Colbert and Stewart did was legal
Shined a light on the issues with modern campaigning due to Citizens United vs. FEC

20. Works Cited
"Citizens United | OpenSecrets." Opensecrets RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar
"Citizens United v. FEC." ACS. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar
"CITIZENS UNITED v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION." Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar
"Citizens United Vs Federal Election Commission." Citizens United Vs Federal Election Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar
"Colbert PAC Ad - The Colbert Report - 3/10/11 - Video Clip | Comedy Central". Colbertnation.com. Retrieved
"Colbert: 'Re-Becoming' The Nation We Always Were | NCPR News from NPR". Northcountrypublicradio.org. Retrieved
"Colbert takes satirical swipe at disclosure laws to create corporation in Del". Delaware Online. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
Sink, Justin ( ). "Colbert creates shell corporation to lampoon Karl Rove's groups — The Hill's Video". The Hill. Capitol Hill Publishing Corp..
"Stephen Colbert’s Super PAC has raised over $1 million, according to filing with FEC" (January 31, 2012). Associated Press.
"Colbert Super PAC Under New Management!". Colbertsuperpac.com. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
Allen, Mike (January 12, 2012). "Stephen Colbert to explore run for president in South Carolina — Politico". politico.com. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
Will Jon Stewart go to jail for running Stephen Colbert's super PAC? By Peter Grier, 18 January 2012
Robillard, Kevin (November 13, 2012). "Colbert shuts down super PAC". Politico. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
Sullivan, Sean (December 14, 2012). "Stephen Colbert Donates Super PAC Money To Charity". Washington Post. Retrieved December 14, 2012.