Independent Expenditure

An independent expenditure (IE) is made without coordination and authorization of a political candidate. The Supreme Court has ruled that because IEs are made without a candidate’s prior approval and cannot be requested by candidates, they do not pose a threat of corruption. This logic has led the Court and FEC to remove limits on contributions (both amount and source limits) to committees which only make independent expenditures. It also allows some organizations, such as corporations and unions, to make IEs when they previously had been prohibited.

Independent expenditures are express advocacy by definition. They explicitly call for the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. Independent expenditures must disclose that they are not authorized by any candidate.