The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Republican challenge to the centerpiece of the 2002 campaign finance overhaul, upholding its ban on unregulated soft money contributions to political parties. Five months after a divided court struck down federal limits on corporate campaign spending on free-speech grounds, the justices refused to extend the reasoning of that case. Three justices -- Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Anthony Kennedy -- dissented.
The soft-money ban limits contributions to political parties by corporations, unions and individuals.
The case is Republican National Committee v. Federal Election Commission, 09-1287.