FEC v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life

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Federal Election Commission v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Inc.
U.S. LEXIS
26
Holding
Massachusetts Citizens for Life violated the Federal Election Campaign Act by distributing flyers asking voters to vote "for life" paid for with treasury funds, however that section of FECA itself violated the First Amendment.
Court membership
Chief Justice
William Rehnquist
Associate Justices
William J. Brennan Jr. · Byron White
Thurgood Marshall · Harry Blackmun
Lewis F. Powell Jr. · John P. Stevens
Sandra Day O'Connor · Antonin Scalia
Case opinions
MajorityBrennan (Parts I and II), joined by unanimous
MajorityBrennan (Parts III–B and III–C), joined by Marshall, Powell, O'Connor, Scalia
PluralityBrennan (Part III–A), joined by Marshall, Powell, Scalia
ConcurrenceO'Connor (in part and in judgment)
Concur/dissentRehnquist, joined by White, Blackmun, Stevens
Laws applied
U.S. Const. amend. I

FEC v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life was a lawsuit filed by the US Federal Election Commission.

Massachusetts Citizens for Life

Massachusetts Citizens for Life was a nonprofit corporation, aiming to "defend the right to life of all human beings born and unborn," with advocacy activities.

It published a newsletter. In September, 1978, Massachusetts Citizens for Life distributed a "Special Edition" telling people to vote "pro-life" in the primary elections. It listed candidates for every office in every voting district in Massachusetts, and labeled each candidate as supporting or rejecting their views. The publication was distributed to a larger audience than that of the standard newsletter (the general public, not just supporters). It was financed by money taken from Massachusetts Citizens for Life's general treasury funds.

A Federal Election Commission complaint was filed.[

Federal District Court.[1]

Case

In Federal Election Commission v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Inc., 479 U.S. 238 (1986), the

See also

References

  1. ^ FEC v. Mass. Cit. for Life, 479 U.S. 238 (1986).
  2. ^ McDonald, Matt. "Diehl Is Choice For Governor of Massachusetts Pro-Life Group; All The MCFL PAC Endorsements". NewBostonPost. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Wermiel, Stephen (December 16, 1986). "High Court Overturns Law Requiring Nonprofit Political Groups to Use PACs". Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition. p. 4. Retrieved May 16, 2017 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ "Federal Election Commission v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Inc". Oyez. Retrieved May 16, 2017.

External links