Campaign Finance (Citizens United and the Super PACs)

What's the short version of this issue?

In 2010, the US Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) was decided, which struck down campaign finance restrictions that limited independent political spending by corporations and unions. This ruling allowed big corporations and entities to spend (sometimes untraceable) money to buy government influence. More information about Citizens United can be found here.

Why do I care about this, and why should you?

I care about this issue because I believe in a democracy where an individual's voice should be heard and represented by their government. I dislike Citizens United because wealthy corporations (currently) have more power to sway government priorities and policies than individual citizens, simply because they have buckets of money. If the US government is supposed to be for the people, by the people, then Citizens United ensures that will never be.

What actions can be taken?

Call and/or write to your elected congressional officials (US Representatives and US Senators). A sample email/letter template is below (and can be used as a phone script).

Here's where to look up who your elected officials are, as well as their contact information:

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Email/letter template

Hello <insert name of elected official>,

My name is <insert your name> and I’m a resident of <insert your city/state>. I am writing to express my deep concern about the undue influence of billionaires and corporations in our electoral process, and to urge you to take decisive action to restore fairness and integrity to our democracy. Specifically, I implore you to advocate for the overturning of Citizens United and to support legislation that bans Super PACs in primaries and general elections.

The current campaign finance system allows a small fraction of wealthy individuals and corporations to wield disproportionate influence over our elections and, by extension, our government policies. This undermines the foundational principle of our democracy—that government should be of, by, and for the people. Instead, it has become increasingly of, by, and for the wealthiest few, while the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out.

Public funding of campaigns should be the standard to ensure an even playing field for all candidates. Elections should reflect the will of the people, not the interests of those who can write the largest checks. The ability of billionaires like Elon Musk and other corporate entities to funnel unlimited sums into Super PACs effectively allows them to buy influence, hijack political agendas, and skew policymaking to serve their financial interests rather than the common good. This erodes trust in our democratic institutions and perpetuates inequality.

I urge you to:

1. Support legislative efforts to overturn Citizens United, including constitutional amendments if necessary.

2. Advocate for the implementation of public campaign financing to level the playing field for all candidates.

3. Push for robust laws to ban Super PACs and close loopholes that allow dark money to flow unchecked into elections.

The vast majority of Americans are not billionaires or corporate executives, yet we are the ones who bear the consequences of policies that favor the ultra-wealthy. It is past time to prioritize the needs and voices of the many over the interests of the few.

As my representative, I trust that you share my commitment to preserving the democratic ideals upon which this country was founded. Please let me know what specific actions you are taking or planning to take to address this urgent issue. I will be closely following your efforts on this matter, as it is one of the most critical issues facing our democracy today.

Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

<insert your name>

#CampaignFinance #CitizensUnited #WriteALetter #MakeACall