October Term 2006 · Docket 06-969
Can the FEC ban issue ads that lack express candidate advocacy?
The FEC argues issue ads must follow campaign rules. Wisconsin Right to Life claims this bans protected speech.
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
General Clement argued the Court previously upheld similar restrictions in McConnell.
Mr. Bopp argued the government contradicts its own expert testimony.
Justice Ginsburg asked about other issue ads in the record.
Justice Scalia noted many ads are not issue ads.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether electioneering communication rules apply to issue ads. The FEC seeks to enforce these restrictions. Wisconsin Right to Life seeks to broadcast ads without following them.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-5
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 7-9
What each side wants
The FEC wants the Court to uphold the ban on issue ads.
Wisconsin Right to Life wants the Court to strike down the ban.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-5
What each side says
The FEC argues issue ads function as campaign speech.
Wisconsin Right to Life argues issue ads discuss policy, not candidates.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-5
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the statement covered all ads or only issue ads.
Chief Justice Roberts asked how the Court determines if this case is typical.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-17
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between political speech and campaign finance regulation. It determines how groups discuss policy during election seasons. It shapes the scope of First Amendment protections for advocacy groups.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-5
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 10, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-17
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 20, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-5
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.