Federal Election Commission v. Akins

The FEC (plaintiff) determined that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was not a "political committee" under the Federal Election Campaign Act and therefore did not have to disclose its members, contributions, and expenditures. A group of voters (defendants, as the challengers) sued under the Act's provisions allowing "any person" who believes a violation occurred to file a complaint with the FEC and allowing "any party aggrieved" by the FEC's dismissal of that complaint to petition in district court. The court of appeals reversed the FEC's determination, and the FEC appealed, arguing the voters lacked prudential standing.