Corporate Personhood is an intentional design goal of US law.<p>The earliest case I&#x27;m aware of dealing with &quot;corporate personhood&quot; is <i>The Rev John Bracken v. The Visitors of Wm &amp; Mary College</i>, from 1790, which is discussed in the linked article [0] (page 434 discusses the founder&#x27;s wishes, treating the corporation as an extension of the will of its founder, through its charter.)  The rest of US case law, long before Citizens United, follows this same pattern -- corporations, being &quot;merely associations of individuals united for a special purpose&quot; [1], function legally as individuals in many ways, with the right to speak and own property and other such things that fit with the purpose for which they are founded.<p>A relevant quote from US case law: &quot;The principle at stake is not peculiar to unions. It is applicable as well to associations of manufacturers, retail and wholesale trade groups, consumers&#x27; leagues, farmers&#x27; unions, religious groups, and every other association representing a segment of American life and taking an active part in our political campaigns and discussions .... It is therefore important -- vitally important -- that all channels of communication be open to [all of the above types of associations] during every election, that no point of view be restrained or barred, and that the people have access to the views of every group in the community.&quot; [2]<p>[0] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;scholarship.law.wm.edu&#x2F;cgi&#x2F;viewcontent.cgi?article=2366&amp;context=wmlr" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;scholarship.law.wm.edu&#x2F;cgi&#x2F;viewcontent.cgi?article=23...</a><p>[1] Pembina Consolidated Silver Mining Co. v. Pennsylvania, 1888  <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;supreme.justia.com&#x2F;cases&#x2F;federal&#x2F;us&#x2F;125&#x2F;181&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;supreme.justia.com&#x2F;cases&#x2F;federal&#x2F;us&#x2F;125&#x2F;181&#x2F;</a><p>[2] United States v. Auto Workers, 1957 <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;supreme.justia.com&#x2F;cases&#x2F;federal&#x2F;us&#x2F;352&#x2F;567&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;supreme.justia.com&#x2F;cases&#x2F;federal&#x2F;us&#x2F;352&#x2F;567&#x2F;</a>