Document Type
Brief
Publication Date
2015
Abstract
The Supreme Court has looked to the rights of corporate shareholders in determining the rights of union members and non-members to control political spending, and vice versa. The Court sometimes assumes that if shareholders disapprove of corporate political expression, they can easily sell their shares or exercise control over corporate spending. This assumption is mistaken. Because of how capital is saved and invested, most individual shareholders cannot obtain full information about corporate political activities, even after the fact, nor can they prevent their savings from being used to speak in ways with which they disagree. Individual shareholders have no “opt out” rights or practical ability to avoid subsidizing corporate political expression with which they disagree. Nor do individuals have the practical option to refrain from putting their savings into equity investments, as doing so would impose damaging economic penalties and ignore conventional financial guidance for individual investors.
Citation
John C. Coates et al, Brief of Corporate Law Professors as Amici Curie in Support of Respondents, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Ass'n No. 14-915 (U.S. Nov. 2015)
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, Corporation law, Corporations--Investor relations, Corporations--Political activity--Law and legislation, Corporate speech, Stockholders
Included in
Business Organizations Law Commons, Corporate Finance Commons, First Amendment Commons, Securities Law Commons
Available at: https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/faculty_scholarship/3546