In the Citizens United case, which amendment was a central focus?

• A. Fifth Amendment
• B. Fourteenth Amendment
• C. First Amendment
• D. Fourth Amendment

Answer: (C)

Political speech is being protected by the First Amendment. In Citizens United, the key question was whether money spent by corporations to run political broadcasts could be limited. The Court ruled that such corporate spending is a form of protected speech, so the government cannot ban or heavily restrict it in the context of elections. That focus on free speech rights—whether and how spending can influence political outcomes—makes the First Amendment the central point of the decision. The other amendments address different rights (unrelated to speech in elections), so they aren’t the central issue here.