The term describes political campaign communications that expressly advocate for the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, but are not made in coordination with or at the request of the candidate’s campaign. An example would be a television advertisement produced and aired by an outside organization that explicitly urges viewers to vote for a specific individual running for office, without any input or direction from that candidate’s campaign team.
This type of spending holds significance within the American political landscape as it represents a form of political expression protected under the First Amendment. The Supreme Court case Buckley v. Valeo (1976) established that restrictions on this spending violate free speech rights, provided it remains independent of the candidate. This ruling has shaped campaign finance regulations and allowed for significant influence by outside groups in elections.
