US Supreme Court strikes down limits on political party spending
The United States Supreme Court has struck down long-standing limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with their candidates, a significant change to the country's campaign finance rules.
The ruling addressed restrictions rooted in post-Watergate reforms that Congress passed to limit the flow of money in politics. The court's decision removes caps on so-called coordinated party expenditures, allowing parties to spend far more in direct concert with the campaigns they support.
The outcome was welcomed by those who argued the limits infringed on political speech and the role of parties, while critics warned it would further increase the influence of money in American elections and weaken safeguards designed to prevent corruption.
The decision was among a series of consequential rulings handed down as the court wrapped up its term, alongside cases on birthright citizenship and transgender athletes, that highlighted the reach of its conservative majority.
Campaign finance has been a recurring battleground at the Supreme Court, which has over the past decade rolled back a number of restrictions on political spending. The latest ruling is likely to shape how parties raise and deploy money heading into future election cycles.
