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Cammarano v. United States

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Cammarano v. United States
Argued November 19, 1958
Decided February 24, 1959
Full case nameCammarano, et ux. v. United States
Citations358 U.S. 498 (more)
79 S. Ct. 524; 3 L. Ed. 2d 462; 1959 U.S. LEXIS 1924; 59-1 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) ¶ 9262; 3 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 697; 1959-1 C.B. 666
Court membership
Chief Justice
Earl Warren
Associate Justices
Hugo Black · Felix Frankfurter
William O. Douglas · Tom C. Clark
John M. Harlan II · William J. Brennan Jr.
Charles E. Whittaker · Potter Stewart
Case opinions
MajorityHarlan, joined by unanimous
ConcurrenceDouglas

Cammarano v. United States, 358 U.S. 498 (1959), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that business may not deduct expenses they incurred for the "promotion or defeat of legislation" as "ordinary and necessary" business expenses on their federal income tax filing.[1]

Opinion of the Court

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In a unanimous opinion written by Justice John Marshall Harlan II, the Court held that "purchased publicity can influence the fate of legislation which will affect, directly or indirectly, all in the community," and therefore "everyone in the community should stand on the same footing as regards its purchase".[2] Justice William O. Douglas filed a concurring opinion; he criticized the argument that "First Amendment rights are somehow not fully realized unless they are subsidized by the State", noting that the argument "may indeed conflict with the underlying premise that a complete hands-off policy on the part of government is at times the only course consistent with First Amendment rights."[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cammarano v. United States, 358 U.S. 498, 505-07 (1959)
  2. ^ Cammarano, 358 U.S. at 513.
  3. ^ Cammarano, 358 U.S. at 515 (Douglas, J., concurring).
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