The Buckley v. Valeo Decision
Summary of the Court's Landmark Campaign Finance Ruling
On January 30, 1976, the Supreme Court issued an opinion in Buckley v. Valeo, the landmark case involving the constitutionality of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA), as amended in 1974, and the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act. The Court upheld the constitutionality of certain provisions of the election law, including: The limitations on contributions to candidates for Federal office. The disclosure and recordkeeping provisions of the FECA. The public financing of presidential elections. The Court declared other provisions of the FECA to be unconstitutional, in particular: The limitations on expenditures by candidates and their committees, except for…
