First Amendment Library

Federal Election Commission v. Beaumont (2003) [Findlaw]
Argument Date	03/25/2003
Decided	6/16/2003
Supreme Court Vote	7-2

Issue	Whether certain advocacy groups can contribute to candidates’ campaigns. Currently, only individuals, political action committees, political parties and other campaign committees can give to candidates. More specifically, the issue is whether North Carolina Right to Life and other nonprofit advocacy corporations -- groups that raise money not through business ventures but through donations from supporters -- can make campaign contributions. Such groups have neither business interests nor shareholders.

Majority Opinion

Souter, J.

Concurring Opinion

Kennedy, J.

Dissenting Opinion

Thomas, J.

Certiorari Granted

11/18/2002

Lower Court

4th Circuit

Lower Court Ruling

In Beaumont v. Federal Election Commission (2002), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit sustained the First Amendment claim in an opinion authored by C.J. James Harvie Wilkinson with Hiram Widener, J., concurring and dissenting and Roger L. Gr

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