The US Supreme Court on Wednesday removed the overall limit on contributions a donor can make to political candidates or campaign committees, in a rebuff to President Barack Obama.
But the top court, in a ruling read by Chief Justice John Roberts, retained limits on the amount of money an individual donor can give to a single candidate.
The court's conservative majority rejected the administration's argument that the aggregate limits prevent donors from circumventing limits on giving to individual candidates, thereby serving the objective of combatting corruption.
"We conclude, however, that the aggregate limits do little, if anything, to address that concern, while seriously restricting participation in the democratic process.
"The aggregate limits are therefore invalid under the First Amendment," the court said.
The US Supreme Court on Wednesday removed the overall limit on contributions a donor can make to political candidates or campaign committees, in a rebuff to President Barack Obama.
But the top court, in a ruling read by Chief Justice John Roberts, retained limits on the amount of money an individual donor can give to a single candidate.
The court’s conservative majority rejected the administration’s argument that the aggregate limits prevent donors from circumventing limits on giving to individual candidates, thereby serving the objective of combatting corruption.
“We conclude, however, that the aggregate limits do little, if anything, to address that concern, while seriously restricting participation in the democratic process.
“The aggregate limits are therefore invalid under the First Amendment,” the court said.
