§ 441b. 2 U.S.C. Citizens United v. FEC in plain English. Citizens United also means that the laws of 24 states prohibiting or limiting “independent expenditures” by corporations and labor unions are under threat. Posted Fri, January 22nd, 2010 11:45 pm by Lisa McElroy. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, case in which the U.S. Supreme Court on January 21, 2010, ruled that laws preventing corporations and unions from using general treasury funds for independent political advertising violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of speech. The Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) prohibits corporations and labor unions from using their general treasury funds to make electioneering communications or for speech that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a federal candidate. And in McCutcheon v. FEC (2014), the U.S. Supreme Court swept away the previous prohibition on individuals contributing more than $48,600 combined to all federal candidates and more than $74,600 combined to all parties and super PACs. Citizens United v. FEC | BRI's Homework Help Series - YouTube