http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.php

WHAT DOES THIS POLITICAL CARTOON SUGGEST ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS?

Why are campaigns so expensive? Brainstorm & make a list of expenses w/a partner.

“MONEY IS THE MOTHER’S MILK OF

POLITICS?”MANY CANDIDATES HAVE SAID

THIS AND EXPERIENCED IT. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE

CANDIDATE AND THE ELECTION PROCESS ITSELF?

WHAT MESSAGE IS THE CARTOON EXPRESSING? WHAT PROBLEMS ARISE FOR A REPUBLIC IF THIS IS TRUE? WHAT WOULD MADISON’S POSITION BE ON CONTROLLING THE “SHADOWY” FIGURE?

Campaigns and Elections

“Mudslinging” – A political term used to describe negative campaigning. Instead of emphasizing one's own positive attributes or policies, it is an attempt to gain an advantage by attacking your opponent, or their policies.

Why do you think negative ads about a political opponent are more effective than ads that extol positive attributes about yourself?

PACs (Political Action Committees) 527 and 501(c) Groups

Description:

PACs collect money and then make campaign contributions to candidates and/or run TV ads for those candidates. PACs are formed by interest groups, corporations, and labor unions to solicit voluntary campaign contributions from individuals that are then used to help candidates win elections.

Description:

Named after section 527and 501(c) of the U.S. tax code, they are largely unregulated by the FEC, so wealthy individuals, corporations, and labor unions can make large donations. They use the money to run “issue ads”. These ads are regularly used to smear the opponent of the candidate that they would like to win.

Examples:National Right to Life PAChttp://www.nrlpac.org/

NARAL Pro-Choice America PAChttp://www.prochoiceamerica.org/

NRA-PVFhttp://www.nrapvf.org/

SARAHPAChttp://www.sarahpac.com/

HOOFPAChttp://www.hoofpac.com/about/index.html

Examples:Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (2004)

Let Freedom Ring (2008)

American Issues Project (2008)

MoveOnOrg (2008)

Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (2008)

SUPER PACS

• created in July 2010 after SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission.

• Known as independent expenditure-only committees– may raise unlimited sums of money from

corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates.

SUPER PACS

• Super PACs must, however, report their donors to the Federal Election Commission on a monthly or quarterly basis -- the Super PAC's choice -- as a traditional PAC would.

• Unlike traditional PACs, Super PACs are prohibited from donating money directly to political candidates

Campaign Finance

• Federal Election Campaign Act 1974– Established the FEC- Federal Election

Commission to enforce federal campaign laws.

• 6 members-3 dem, 3 rep

• BCFRA– Eliminated soft money– Increased individual contributions directly to

candidates

Campaign Finance Cases

• Buckley v. Valeo – Challenged FECA on limitations placed on

contributions as a limit to freedom of expression

– Decision:• Upheld limitations on donations by individuals to

help maintain “free competitive elections”• Struck down limitations on candidates spending

their own money on campaigns-not necessary to limit the potential for corruption

Campaign Finance Cases

• McConnell v. FEC– Were the restrictions on soft money from the

BCFRA unconstitutional?– Decision

• Limitations on soft money was permitted as the impact of free speech was minimal

• Congress had not exceeded its powers.

Campaign Finance Cases

• Citizens United v. FEC– Court ruled that the First Amendment does

not permit laws to discriminate between corporations and individuals when it comes to spending INDEPENDENT of candidates and political parties.

– Allows corporations and unions to spend money directly advocating election or defeat of candidates. NO CONNECTION WITH PARTY OR CANDIDATE.

CURRENT LIMITATIONS

• FEC REGULATED- all groups must file disclosure reports-who gave and how spent

• Individual limits– $2400 per candidate per election– $5000 to a PAC per year– $30,400 to national political party per year– $10,000 to federal acct of state party committee– No more than $115,500 for two year cycle

CURRENT LIMITATIONS

• PACS– $5000 per candidate per election– $15000 to national political parties– If PAC makes contributions to candidates or

parties, then it can only accept hard money and follow restrictions

– IF a Super PAC and makes independent expenditures, not bound by federal contribution restrictions