secured by the Constitution. The spirit of this clause covers and embraces the right of every citizen to engage in such discussions, and to promote the views of himself and his associates freely, without being trammelled by inconvenient restrictions. Such restrictions, in my judgment, are imposed by the law in question. Justice Bradley also concluded that the Act was overbroad and that the same positive ends (ending political corruption) could have been achieved by alternative, narrower means. Assessment One of the interesting aspects of the majority's decision is that it believed Congress prohibited not civil servants from making political donations on their own but making such donations through their supervisors. Justice Bradley dissented, in part, by arguing that the law banned even voluntary contributions made through superiors (a ban that he felt was unconstitutional). At least one commentator has concluded that Ex parte Curtis is still "good law." References External links Campaign finance in the United States Civil service in the United States United States election law United States Free Speech Clause case law United States habeas corpus case law United States Supreme Court cases United States Supreme Court cases of the Waite Court 1882 in United States case law