October Term 2002 · Docket 02-1674
Can Congress restrict party fundraising?
Lawmakers challenge federal limits on political party money.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
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.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 12-24
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests Title I of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. This law limits how parties raise and spend money.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 12-24
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on September 8, 2003.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-16
What each side wants
Challengers want the law struck down.
The government wants the law upheld.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 12-24
What each side says
Challengers argue the law restricts core party activities.
The government argues the restrictions are not new.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 12-24
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist announced the court recess schedule.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-24
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal campaign finance power. It shapes how political parties operate nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 12-24
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-16
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 8-6 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 8-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 12-24
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.