Campaign Finance Reform
Buckley v. Valeo and Free-Speech Exceptions
Campaign finance regulation invokes two conflicting values implicit in the application of the First Amendment’s guarantee of free political speech and association. On the one hand, political expression constitutes “core” First Amendment activity, which the Supreme Court grants the greatest deference and protection in order to “assure [the] unfettered interchange of ideas for the bringing about of political and social changes desired by the people.” — Roth v. United States (1957). On the other hand, according to the Court in its landmark 1976 decision, Buckley v. Valeo, an absolutely free “political marketplace” is neither mandated by the First Amendment, nor…
