In National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, the Supreme Court struck down federal limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with their own candidates. The case challenged limits on coordinated party expenditures under federal campaign law. A coordinated expenditure is spending done in cooperation with a candidate, and the Court ruled that federal limits on that spending violated the First Amendment. Supporters say political parties should be able to speak and campaign with their own nominees. Critics say unlimited coordination can let large donors route more influence through party committees while formally obeying contribution limits. Free speech matters, but campaign rules also shape whether voters think government is being bought through technical loopholes.