UNITED STATES v. Auto Workers

Legal Principle at Issue

Whether a labor union's use of general treasury funds to sponsor television commercials promoting federal candidates constituted an illegal "expenditure" under the law, and if applying this prohibition to unions was constitutional.

Action

Reversed and remanded. Petitioning party received a favorable disposition.

Facts/Syllabus

18 U.S.C. § 610 prohibits any corporation or labor organization from making "a contribution or expenditure in connection with" any election for federal office. An indictment of appellee — the International Union United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America — under this section charged appellee with having used union dues to sponsor commercial television broadcasts designed to influence the electorate to select certain candidates for Congress in connection with the 1954 elections. The District Court dismissed the indictment as not alleging a statutory offense.