WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court struck down on Friday limits on individual contributions to independent political advocacy groups that want to spend money directly to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress.

The unanimous ruling by nine federal appellate judges held the limits violated constitutional free-speech rights under the First Amendment. The decision cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in January in another campaign finance case.

The two rulings together are expected to unleash a flood of money ahead of the congressional elections in November and in other political campaigns such as the 2012 presidential contest.

Two months ago, the high court ruled 5-4 that corporations can spend freely to support or oppose federal candidates on the grounds limits violated free-speech rights. President Barack Obama opposed the decision for giving special interests more power.

The appeals court based its decision in large part on the Supreme Court’s ruling. It struck down limits on how much money the nonprofit groups can collect from donors for political ads and other campaign spending.

Under the limits, an individual can give up to $5,000 per year in contributions to the groups that plan to use the money to support or oppose a federal candidate.

The decision was a victory for a group called SpeechNow.org, which said it intended to support candidates for federal office that share its views on the right to free speech and freedom of assembly.

The contribution limits violated the First Amendment by preventing individuals from donating in excess of the limits and by prohibiting SpeechNow.org from accepting donations in excess of the limits, Chief Judge David Sentelle said.

The ruling was a defeat for the Federal Election Commission, a federal agency in charge of oversight involving the campaign finance laws. It adopted the regulations at issue in 2005.

The appeals court upheld reporting requirements covering donors and spending by such groups. The Supreme Court upheld similar disclosure requirements in January.

“Requiring disclosure of such information deters and helps expose violations of other campaign finance restrictions, such as those barring contributions from foreign corporations or individuals,” Sentelle wrote in the 21-page ruling.

Separately, a three-judge federal court rejected a legal challenge involving the Republican National Committee and upheld long-standing limits on contributions to political parties. The limits were part of the 2002 campaign-finance law.