FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON v. BELLOTTI

No. 76-1172.

435 U.S. 765 (1978)

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON ET AL. v. BELLOTTI, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Supreme Court of United States.

Decided April 26, 1978.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Francis H. Fox argued the cause for appellants. With him on the briefs was E. Susan Garsh.

Thomas R. Kiley, Assistant Attorney General of Massachusetts, argued the cause for appellee. With him on the brief were Francis X. Bellotti, Attorney General, pro se, and Stephen Schultz, Assistant Attorney General.*


MR. JUSTICE POWELL delivered the opinion of the Court.

In sustaining a state criminal statute that forbids certain expenditures by banks and business corporations for the purpose of influencing the vote on referendum proposals, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that the First Amendment rights of a corporation are limited to issues that materially affect its business, property, or assets. The court rejected appellants' claim that the statute abridges freedom...

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