October Term 2007 · Docket 07-320
Can a law force wealthy candidates to spend more to match opponents?
A candidate argues a federal law violates free speech by forcing him to spend more money to match a poorer opponent.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Andrew Herman argued the law regulates personal spending.
General Clement argued the candidate did not limit his own spending.
Justice Souter noted the law did not deter the candidate.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if the government can regulate a candidate's personal campaign spending.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 22, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
The candidate wants the law struck down as a free speech violation.
The commission wants the law upheld to level the playing field.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
What each side says
The candidate argues the law forces him to spend more money.
The commission argues the law does not restrict the wealthy candidate's spending.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the law actually deters spending.
Chief Justice Roberts asked for case law supporting the candidate's claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
Why it matters
The outcome defines the limits of government power over campaign finance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
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 3, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
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 25, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
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.