In what context did the Supreme Court case Citizens United v. FEC arise?

The Supreme Court case Citizens United v. FEC arose in the context of corporate funding in political campaigns, specifically examining how laws regulating campaign finance interacted with free speech rights under the First Amendment. The case centered on whether the government could limit independent expenditures by corporations and unions for political communication.

In its ruling, the Court determined that corporations and unions have the same free speech rights as individuals, affirming that spending money to influence elections is a form of protected speech. This landmark decision allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on independent political expenditures, significantly impacting the landscape of campaign finance in the United States and leading to the rise of Super PACs and increased corporate influence in politics. The ruling emphasized the importance of free speech and highlighted ongoing debates about the role of money in politics.