In citizens united vs federal election commission fec the us supreme court ruled in 2010 that political spending is a form of free speech thats protected under the first amendment. Citizens united vs federal election commission 130 sct 876 2010 supreme court english edition ebook us supreme court landmark publications amazonde kindle shop. Federal election commission case in which the us supreme court on january 21 2010 ruled 5 4 that laws that prevented corporations and unions from using their general treasury funds for independent electioneering communications political advertising violated the first amendment s guarantee of freedom of speech. Citizens united is a nonprofit corporation it brought this action in the united states district court for the district of columbia a three judge court later convened to hear the cause the resulting judgment gives rise to this appeal. Federal election commission supreme court of the united states 130 sct 876 january 21 2010 opinion justice kennedy federal law prohibits corporations and unions from using their general treasury funds to make independent expenditures for speech defined as an electioneering communication or for speech expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate limits on electioneering