A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a decades-old cap on the amount of money an individual can contribute during an election cycle.

Currently, an individual can make $74,600 worth of contributions to party committees and political action committees and $48,600 to federal candidates. By a 5-4 vote, the court said the cap set by the Federal Elections Commission violates the U.S. Constitution.

“There is no right more basic in our democracy than the right to participate in electing our political leaders,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts wrote for the majority in McCutcheon v. FEC. “We have made clear that Congress may not regulate contributions simply to reduce the amount of money in politics, or to restrict the political participation of some in order to enhance the relative influence of others.”

The decision doesn't affect the amount an individual can contribute to a single candidate. That will remain at $2,600.

The ruling comes after the Supreme Court struck down a cap on the amount of money corporations can contribute to independent political action committees in Citizens United v. FEC.

“If Citizens United opened a door, today’s decision, we fear, will open a floodgate,” Justice Stephen G. Breyer wrote in a dissent.

Get the Story:
Supreme Court strikes down limits on overall federal campaign donations (The Washington Post 4/3)
Supreme Court ruling gives small number of wealthy donors new ways to drive campaigns (The Washington Post 4/3)
Supreme Court Strikes Down Overall Political Donation Cap (The New York Times 4/3)
Power Surge for Donors as Terrain Is Reshaped on Campaign Money (The New York Times 4/3)
Polls Show Broad Support for Campaign Spending Caps (The New York Times 4/3)

Supreme Court Decision:
McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (April 2, 2014)