The
2012 presidential election has been the most expensive to date. The whopping $2
billion that has been spent by both campaigns can be partially attributed to
the Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission decision by the Supreme Court.
This
decision, as many of you know, held that corporations and labor unions have a First
Amendment right to make independent expenditures that advocate election or
defeat of candidates in certain federal elections.
This
has led to the creation of “Super-PACs” that can spend an unlimited about of
money in federal elections. This has led to a very large
increase in paid media advertising. Many believe our campaign finance system is
broken.
The
American Bar Association Section on Individual Rights and Responsibility is
holding a panel discussion to consider the effects of Citizens United on
the 2012 presidential election.
Free-speech proponents, proponents of campaign donation regulation and
election law practitioners will meet to discuss the lessons learned from this
election and how campaign finance has changed. The legal ramifications of Citizens United,
such as the potential effects of shareholder litigation challenging campaign
expenditures, will also be discussed.
Campaign
finance is a critical issue. This panel is a timely opportunity for those in
the DC area to hear civil discourse about an interesting subject. It is free,
unless you are requesting CLE credit, in which case it costs $25.
To
register for CLE credit, email the Section at irr@americanbar.org. For more information, contact Patrice Payne
at (202) 662-1030.
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