October Term 2021 · Docket 21-12
Can a candidate sue to strike down a federal loan repayment limit?
Senator Cruz argues he can challenge a federal loan limit. The FEC says he lacks standing to sue.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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. Stewart argued the appellees lack standing to sue.
Mr. Cooper argued the government's standing arguments are meritless.
Mr. Cooper stated he can challenge the authorizing statute directly.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Senator Cruz wants the court to strike down a federal loan repayment limit. The FEC wants the court to dismiss the case for lack of standing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 19, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-39
What each side wants
Senator Cruz wants the court to reverse the lower-court judgment and declare the loan limit unconstitutional.
The FEC wants the court to dismiss the case because Senator Cruz lacks standing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
What each side says
Senator Cruz argues he has standing to challenge the statute authorizing the loan limit.
The FEC argues Senator Cruz lacks standing to bring this lawsuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if a town ordinance restricting newspaper editorials would be unconstitutional.
Chief Justice Roberts asked how to weigh First Amendment infringement against corruption prevention.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-29
Why it matters
This case defines who can challenge federal campaign finance rules. It determines the scope of judicial review for election law statutes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
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 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-29
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 17-19
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.