1. A GUIDE TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE

2. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER Why does money matter? What is it paying for?
Where is it coming from?
How is it regulated?
Does money automatically = victory?

3. WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? DIRECT
Self funding
Unlimited (Buckley v. Valeo) but high risk
Public funding
Limited/capped
Individual contributions (donors)
Limited by dollar amount by race
PAC contributions
IG, unions, businesses
Party organization (DNC/RNC)
Limited

4. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMS
In 1975, Congress created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to administer and enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) - the statute that governs the financing of federal elections.
Duties: disclose campaign finance information, enforce the provisions of the law such as the limits and prohibitions on contributions, and to oversee the public funding of Presidential elections.

7. INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
a political campaign communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate that is not made in cooperation, consultation or concert with or at the request or suggestion of a candidate, candidate’s authorized committee or a political party.

8. BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT aka MCCAIN-FEINGOLD
BANNED SOFT MONEY - was money raised by national parties and political actions committees for "get-out-the-vote" campaign efforts and other organization-building activities. Because the money's purpose is sort of mushy, the laws regulating it were equally vague.
Parties were raising unlimited funds for these activities and using them for far wider purposes than just voter registration. After BCRA, this type of fundraising was deeply curtailed.

11. 2004 John Kerry v. “W”
Swift Boat Veteran's for Truth, a group that opposed Democratic candidate John Kerry, ran misleading ads questioning Kerry’s heroism during the Vietnam War.

12. CITIZENS UNITED
Citizens United is an organization dedicated to restoring our government to citizens’ control.
Non-profit corporation Citizens United
Mentions the candidates name

15. SUPER PACS
May raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates
NOT AFFILIATED WITH CANDIDATE