SpeechNow.org
SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission
Protecting Americans’ Rights to Organize and Speak About Politics
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SpeechNow.org President David Keating and IJ Senior Attorney Steve Simpson
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SpeechNow.org is a new group of citizens formed to protect the First Amendment at the ballot box. But before it can advocate for or against candidates based on their stand on free speech, it must go to court to secure its own First Amendment rights.
Represented by the Institute for Justice and the Center for Competitive Politics, SpeechNow.org and its members are challenging the federal campaign finance law that requires SpeechNow.org to become a “political committee” in order to advocate for or against candidates. The law’s limits and red tape make it virtually impossible for new independent citizen groups like SpeechNow.org to raise start-up funding and effectively reach voters.
It is also unconstitutional for a group like SpeechNow.org.
SpeechNow.org is simply Americans talking to Americans about an issue of vital public importance: the right to speak freely about politics and whom to elect to secure it. The First Amendment guarantees individuals the right to speak without limit, so it should be common sense that groups of individuals have the same rights.
The lawsuit aims to vindicate the First Amendment rights to free speech and association and to pave the way groups of citizens to make their voices heard in elections—without being hamstrung by harmful government limits on speech.
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Essential Background
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Images
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Backgrounder: SpeechNow.org v. FEC Protecting Americans’ Rights To Organize and Speak About Politics
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Client Photo
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Client Video - none available
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Launch Release: SpeechNow.org Files Lawsuit to Protect Americans’ Rights to Organize and Speak About Politics (February 14, 2007)
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Legal Briefs and Decisions
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SpeechNow.org Complaint  (February 14, 2008)
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SpeechNow.org Motion for Preliminary Injunction (February 14, 2008)
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FEC Chairman's Opinion on Unconstitutionality of Limits for Independent Groups (January 24, 2008)
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FEC's advisory opinion (January 22, 2008)
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Advisory Opinion Request to FEC (November 14, 2007)
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Case Timeline
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U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
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U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
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Awaiting decision on preliminary injunction
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Next Key Date:
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TBD
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Additional Releases
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Maps, Charts and Facts
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Release: Split FEC Vote Leaves SpeechNow.org Silenced; Chairman’s Opinion Says Limits on Independent Citizen Groups Unconstitutional (January 24, 2008)
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none available
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Release: FEC Draft Opinion Would Silence SpeechNow.org, Independent Speech Groups (January 22, 2008)
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Release: SpeechNow.org Responds to Comments Before FEC On Rights of Independent Speech Groups (December 11, 2007)
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Op-eds, News Articles and Links
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Release: Federal Election Commission Agrees to Decide Rights of Independent Speech Groups (November 29, 2007)
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SpeechNow.org
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Center for Competitive Politics
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Column: Ad Lib, ReasonOnline (December 5, 2007)
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Editorial: Free SpeechNow, New York Sun (January 24, 2008)
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