1. The Many Influences on American Politics

2. THE MEDIA’S INFLUENCE ON PUBLIC OPINION
Limits:
Only a small group of people follow the media very closely.
People are selective in choosing media coverage.
Much media content is shallow and unrelated to political affairs.
Radio and TV tend to carry short, general reports to the public.
Media outlets often depend on advertising revenue, which can sometimes dictate coverage.
Benefits:
In-depth media coverage is available to those who look for it, particularly on the internet.
Media allows for more people to actively participate in political discussions.

3. The Influence of Lobbying
*****Lobbyists represent Special Interest Groups.
- They persuade/convince our lawmakers to “care” about specified public policies through campaign contributions, writing speeches, providing information to office holders, etc.
Cons:
Focus on special (narrow) interests of group.
Often represent a small segment of the population.
Occasionally use unethical tactics.

4. Campaign Contributions
The Influence of Money on Politics...
Campaign Contributions
Individual Donors
Public Financing by Government
Political Action Committees (PACs)

5. Regulating Campaign Finance
Contributions by individuals and groups are protected by the 1st amendment right to free speech.
Direct contributions by unions and corporations to campaigns are illegal.
Federal campaigns must record donations and report regularly to Federal Election Committee.

6. Hard Money vs. Soft Money
Hard Money- Money that is given directly to candidates for their campaigns. This money is tightly regulated and reported.
Soft Money- funds given to parties or political organizations, in unlimited amounts, to be used for “party building activities,” or particular public policies.

7. What is a Super PAC?
A super PAC is a political-action committee that is allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, individuals and associations.
An "independent expenditure-only committee."

8. What's the function of super PACs?
To advocate for the election or defeat of candidates for federal office by purchasing television, radio and print advertisements and other media. There are conservative super PACs and liberal super PACs.

9. What's the difference between a super PAC and a traditional political action committee?
The most important difference between a super PAC and a traditional PAC is in who can contribute, and in how much they can give.
Candidates and traditional PACs can accept $2,500 from individuals per election. That means they can take in $5,000 a year - half in the primary, and half in the general election.
Candidates and traditional PACs are prohibited from accepting money from corporations, unions and associations. Federal election code prohibits those entities from contributing directly to candidates or candidate committees.
Super PACs, though, have no limitations on who contributes or how much they contribute. They can raise as much money from corporations, unions and associations as they please and spend unlimited amounts on advocating for the election or defeat of the candidates of their choice.

10. Are there any restrictions on super PACs?
Yes. The most important restriction prohibits super PACs from working in conjunction with the candidates they're supporting. According to the Federal Election Commission, super PACs cannot spend money “in concert or cooperation with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, the candidate's campaign or a political party.”

12. Colbert
Romney v. Gingrich

13. When did super PACs come into existence, and why?
Super PACs came into existence in July 2010 following two key federal court decisions that found limitations on both corporate and individual contributions to be unconstitutional violations of the First Amendment right to free speech.
In SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission, a federal court found restrictions on individual contributions to independent organizations that seek to influence elections to be unconstitutional. And in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that limits on corporate and union spending to influence elections were also unconstitutional.
Combined, the rulings allowed individuals, unions and other organizations to contribute freely to political action committees that are independent of political candidates.

14. Why are super PACs so controversial?
“Super PACs opened the floodgates to widespread corruption.”
-The rulings allowed wealthy corporations and unions to have an unfair advantage in electing candidates to federal office.

18. What are some examples of super PACs?
Super PACs will spend tens of millions of dollars in this 2012 presidential race, the first contest affected by the court rulings allowing the committees to exist.
Some examples are:
•Restore Our Future, a conservative super PAC supporting Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.
•Priorities USA Action, a liberal super PAC supporting President Barack Obama's re-election bid.