Campaign Finance The connection between money and the elections

 Pres. election cycle: $880.5 million raised $717.9 million spent  Pres. election cycle: $1,748.8 million raised $1,324.7 million spent 008&type=SF  Pres. election cycle: $880.5 million raised $717.9 million spent  Pres. election cycle: $1,748.8 million raised $1,324.7 million spent 008&type=SF

Presidential Election Cycle  ndex.php ndex.php  Open Secrets - US research group  Tracks money in politics  Non-partisan  Non-profit Presidential Election Cycle  ndex.php ndex.php  Open Secrets - US research group  Tracks money in politics  Non-partisan  Non-profit

History of Campaign Finance Regulation  Corrupt Practices Acts  Hatch Act 1939  FECA 1971  Corrupt Practices Acts  Hatch Act 1939  FECA 1971

 FECA 1971 – reduce the importance of $ on elections – limit big donations  No limit on spending  Restricted spending on mass media  Restricted spending own money  Unconstitutional: Buckley v Valeo 76  Disclosure of all contributions >$100  Income tax return donations to Fed Funds – public financing funds  Increased influence of PAC’s: smaller contributions from larger # donors  1970’s – 600 to >2000 PAC’s  FECA 1971 – reduce the importance of $ on elections – limit big donations  No limit on spending  Restricted spending on mass media  Restricted spending own money  Unconstitutional: Buckley v Valeo 76  Disclosure of all contributions >$100  Income tax return donations to Fed Funds – public financing funds  Increased influence of PAC’s: smaller contributions from larger # donors  1970’s – 600 to >2000 PAC’s

 Federal Election Commission  Public Financing  Contribution limits  Disclosures  Soft Money  Federal Election Commission  Public Financing  Contribution limits  Disclosures  Soft Money Amendments to FECA

 Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act 2002  McCain Feingold Act  Regulate Soft Money  Contribution limits  Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act 2002  McCain Feingold Act  Regulate Soft Money  Contribution limits

Hard Money v. Soft Money  Hard money  Express advocacy in federal elections  Individuals, PAC’s pol parties, corporations etc.  All $ disclosed to FEC  Hard money  Express advocacy in federal elections  Individuals, PAC’s pol parties, corporations etc.  All $ disclosed to FEC

 Soft Money  Not used in federal elections (state/local)  NOT used for express advocacy  Advertising that educates voters about issues, with a specific candidate endorsement  >$2000 disclosed to FEC  Used for public issue communications - independent of candidates  Soft Money  Not used in federal elections (state/local)  NOT used for express advocacy  Advertising that educates voters about issues, with a specific candidate endorsement  >$2000 disclosed to FEC  Used for public issue communications - independent of candidates

Political Action Committees - PAC’s Top Twenty PAC’s Top Twenty PAC’s

Difference Between PAC’s & Super PAC’s  /13/ stephen-colbert-explains- difference-between-pacs-and-super-pacs /13/ stephen-colbert-explains- difference-between-pacs-and-super-pacs   php?cycle= php?cycle=2014  13/timescast-whats-a-super-pac/?_r=0 13/timescast-whats-a-super-pac/?_r=0  /13/ stephen-colbert-explains- difference-between-pacs-and-super-pacs /13/ stephen-colbert-explains- difference-between-pacs-and-super-pacs   php?cycle= php?cycle=2014  13/timescast-whats-a-super-pac/?_r=0 13/timescast-whats-a-super-pac/?_r=0

527’s BCFRA LOOPHOLE 2008 / 2012 Issue Advocacy: act of making generalized communication regarding a public issue w/o advocating voters to take a specific action. Express Advocacy: act of making specific communication regarding a public issue advocating voters to take a specific action.  regulated by the FEC 527’s BCFRA LOOPHOLE 2008 / 2012 Issue Advocacy: act of making generalized communication regarding a public issue w/o advocating voters to take a specific action. Express Advocacy: act of making specific communication regarding a public issue advocating voters to take a specific action.  regulated by the FEC

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission spanclassroom.org/Video/835/Citizens+ United+v+Federal+Election+Commission +Reactions.aspx spanclassroom.org/Video/835/Citizens+ United+v+Federal+Election+Commission +Reactions.aspx

SPEECHNOW.org vs. FEC  result - two core rules.  First, an organization formed to accept contributions and make independent expenditures must register as a political committee under the same regime as any other PAC.political committee  Second, entitled to accept unlimited contributions from individuals.  When coupled with Citizens United, suggested that corporations and unions may contribute unlimited amounts to Independent Expenditure only PACs.  Spending by PAC’s, corps, or unions helping party/candidate - done independently of them.  result - two core rules.  First, an organization formed to accept contributions and make independent expenditures must register as a political committee under the same regime as any other PAC.political committee  Second, entitled to accept unlimited contributions from individuals.  When coupled with Citizens United, suggested that corporations and unions may contribute unlimited amounts to Independent Expenditure only PACs.  Spending by PAC’s, corps, or unions helping party/candidate - done independently of them.

Current Limits /brochures/contriblimits. shtml contribution limits for federal elections /brochures/contriblimits. shtml contribution limits for federal elections