No. 02-1674October Term 2002Decided Aug 25, 2003
McConnell v. Federal Election Commission
This case considers whether the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which banned 'soft money' donations and regulated political advertising, violates the First Amendment or exceeds Congress's authority.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Aug 25, 2003
- What it's about
This case considers whether the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which banned 'soft money' donations and regulated political advertising, violates the First Amendment or exceeds Congress's authority. The Supreme Court upheld most of the law, finding the restrictions were justified to prevent corruption.
Question presented
1. Does the "soft money" ban of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 exceed Congress's authority to regulate elections under Article 1, Section 4 of the United States Constitution and/or violate the First Amendment's protection of the freedom to speak? 2. Do regulations of the source, content, or timing of political advertising in the Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 violate the First Amendment's free speech clause?
- Case path
United States District Court for the District of Columbia / Decision released Aug 25, 2003
- Area
First Amendment, Elections
Timing
Decided August 25, 2003
The Court released its decision on August 25, 2003 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology