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Issue Advocacy: A Cornerstone of Democracy
January 1, 2018  •  By IFS Staff  •    •  

The First Amendment protects speech from burdensome government regulation. Until the 1970s, federal law largely did not regulate either campaign speech or issue speech by advocacy groups. That changed with the adoption of the Federal Election Campaign Act. The Act attempted to regulate any speech “relative to a clearly identified candidate.” This law, and the subsequent Supreme Court decision Buckley…

Independence Institute v. Williams
September 30, 2014   •  By IFS staff   •  , , ,

The Center for Competitive Politics filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Colorado think tank saying that state campaign finance disclosure laws are unconstitutional ...

Independence Institute v. FEC
September 30, 2014   •  By IFS staff   •  , , , ,

Can a think tank run ads advocating for public policy without first disclosing its donors to the federal government? That is the question at ...

State False Statement Laws: Should the Government Act as the Truth Police?
July 17, 2014   •  By Matt Nese   •  , ,

Generally, false statement laws prohibit “false” speech about candidates or public officials (including their official voting records). Analogous libel and slander statutes – which also ...

Comment on the New York Emergency Regulations Relative to Independent Expenditure Reporting
June 10, 2014   •  By Allen Dickerson   •  , ,

On behalf of the Center for Competitive Politics (“CCP”), I write to respectfully comment on the Emergency Regulations Relative to Independent Expenditure Reporting, which ...

Institute for Free Speech v. Bonta

 dft
April 14, 2014   •  By IFS Staff   •  , , , , , ,

In order to legally solicit tax-deductible contributions in California, entities must first register with the state’s Registry of Charitable Trusts, which is administered by ...

Statement of David Keating Before the Committee on Elections and Ethics Michigan House of Representatives
December 3, 2013   •  By Joe Trotter   •  , , ,

The most important provision in the bill is its protection of Michiganders’ First Amendment rights to speak about issues at any time, but especially ...

Delaware Strong Families v. Denn

 dft
October 23, 2013   •  By IFS staff   •  , , , ,

Should the state have the power to regulate groups that publish nonpartisan voter guides in the same way that it regulates candidate committees, political ...

Comments on Maryland Senate Bill 1039
March 29, 2013   •  By Matt Nese   •  , , ,

External Relations Director Matt Nese submitted comments to the Maryland Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on Senate Bill 1039, which makes several welcome revisions to existing ...

Coalition for Secular Government v. Williams
March 20, 2013   •  By IFS staff   •  , , , ,

Colorado resident Diana Hsieh, a doctor of philosophy, organized the non-profit Coalition for Secular Government with her friend Ari Armstrong in order to promote ...

Comments on Maryland House Bill 1499
March 13, 2013   •  By Joe Trotter   •  , , ,

Center for Competitive Politics Legal Director Allen Dickerson testified before the Maryland Legislature on House Bill 1499, which incorporates many of the suggestions CCP ...

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