Supreme Court of the United States
Federal Election Commission v. National Conservative Political Action Committee
March 18, 1985470 U.S. 480
Summary
The Court held that the Democratic Party lacked statutory standing to bring a direct action against private political committees under the Fund Act, although the DNC and an eligible voter could sue only when the action was appropriate within the Act’s enforcement scheme. It nevertheless affirmed the judgment that the Fund Act’s prohibition on independent expenditures exceeding $1,000 violated the First Amendment because the restriction burdened protected political expression, lacked a sufficient anti-corruption justification, and was substantially overbroad. The judgment was therefore reversed as to the Democrats’ standing and affirmed as to the statute’s constitutionality.
Holding
- Statutory standing under the Fund Act. The Democratic Party lacked standing because it was not among the entities authorized by § 9011(b)(1). Although the DNC and an eligible voter fell within the statute’s listed categories, their action was not appropriate because a direct suit against private parties would interfere with the FEC’s exclusive administrative and civil-enforcement responsibilities.
- Scope of § 9012(f). Section 9012(f) applies to independent expenditures by political committees, not merely expenditures coordinated with a candidate or campaign.
- First Amendment validity of § 9012(f). Section 9012(f) is unconstitutional on its face because its across-the-board criminal limitation on independent expenditures substantially burdens protected political speech and association, is not supported by a sufficiently strong anti-corruption interest, and is fatally overbroad.
Docket 83-1032