First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti

First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti was a 1978 Supreme Court case that addressed whether corporations have the First Amendment right to spend money on political speech in state ballot initiatives. The Court ruled that corporate political speech is protected, but differs from individual speech and can be regulated to prevent corruption or undue influence. This decision clarified that corporations could participate in political debates through financial support, as long as regulations serve legitimate interests, balancing free speech rights with safeguarding the political process.