{"argument_date":"2003-09-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2003-09-08T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Burchfield argued Title I is fatally overbroad.","Mr. Olson stated the issues are not new.","Mr. Starr claimed the law intrudes deeply into political life.","Mr. Starr argued candidates differ from political parties."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 100, lines 6-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 42-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 6-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 8-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 30-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 84, lines 12-24"}]}],"caption":"McConnell v. Federal Election Comm'n","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.045419Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.048460Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Lawmakers challenge federal limits on political party money.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 100, lines 6-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 42-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 8-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 30-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 84, lines 12-24"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2003-09-08T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/02-1674.html","primary_docket":"02-1674","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:14:01.969189Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The case tests Title I of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. This law limits how parties raise and spend money."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 100, lines 6-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 42-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 8-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 30-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 84, lines 12-24"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on September 8, 2003."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 6-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 30-16"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Challengers want the law struck down.","The government wants the law upheld."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 100, lines 6-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 42-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 8-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 30-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 84, lines 12-24"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Challengers argue the law restricts core party activities.","The government argues the restrictions are not new."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 100, lines 6-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 42-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 8-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 30-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 84, lines 12-24"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist announced the court recess schedule."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 6-24"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of federal campaign finance power. It shapes how political parties operate nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 100, lines 6-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 42-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 8-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 30-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 84, lines 12-24"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 6-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 30-16"}]}],"slug":"2002-02-1674-mcconnell-v-federal-election-comm-n","term":"2002","title":"Can Congress restrict party fundraising?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 100, lines 6-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 42-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 8-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 30-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-1674.pdf","page_label":"file page 84, lines 12-24"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}