Citizens Against Rent Control/coalition for Fair Housing v. City of Berkeley, California

Summary

The Court held that Berkeley's $250 limit on contributions to committees supporting or opposing ballot measures violated the First Amendment. Because the limit restricted the ability of individuals to associate and pool resources for political advocacy while leaving individuals free to spend unlimited amounts independently, it imposed an impermissible restraint on speech and association, and the asserted interests were insufficient, particularly in light of existing disclosure requirements. Justice White dissented, and Justices Blackmun and O'Connor concurred in the judgment on narrower exacting-scrutiny grounds.