In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to restrict PACs from using independent expenditures to overtly advocate for or against a candidate through Election Day. This case, Citizens United v. FEC, paved the way for the rise of Super PACs. These entities can raise and spend unlimited sums of money advocating for or against a candidate as long as they do not coordinate with that candidate’s campaign.

Citizens United opened the floodgates for special interest groups to spend virtually unlimited, undisclosed amounts of money in American elections. And those groups have responded by pouring tens of millions of dollars into campaigns to influence voters around the country.

Interest groups are increasingly calling the shots, boosting candidates friendly to their agenda and spending enough to challenge the party’s consensus in congressional primaries if they so choose.

Citizens United provides more power to wealthy corporations than regular American voters. We must have common sense rules for the raising and spending of money on elections to advance political equality for all Americans.

Earlier this year, a constitutional amendment that aims to reverse the damage done to American democracy by Citizens United and related cases was introduced in House and Senate resolutions (H.J. Res. 2 and S.J. Res 51). Democracy For All will limit the influence of wealthy special interests in elections and establish that corporations do not have the same rights as human beings.