1. Campaign finance

2. Fundraising Tactics Interest Groups
Organization of people with similar goals trying to influence legislation that affects their interests
Campaign finance reform limits the direct impact Interest Groups can have financially on elections, so PACs were formed.

3. Political action committee
Main purpose: raise money and distribute funds to influence candidates and advocate the goals of its members
Funds only accepted from individuals – no corporate or union funds
$5,000 max to individual candidate
$15,000 max to a party committee

4. Fundraising tactics Super PACs (Independent Expenditure Committees)
Can raise unlimited sums of money from unlimited sources (individuals, corporations, unions, etc.)
Can spend unlimited funds to influence election but cannot contribute directly to or coordinate with an individual candidate

5. Finance reform

6. Federal election commission (fec)
Created after Watergate (1974)
Monitors fundraising tactics of PACs, Super PACs, Campaigns and Party Committees

7. Hard money Funds contributed directly to a political candidate
Must come from individual donations or from a PAC
Monitored by the FEC

8. Soft money Funds contributed to a political party or PAC
No contribution limits and can come from any source (individuals, PAC, corporations)
Can only be used for “party building activities” such as advocating for certain laws
Cannot be donated directly to individual politicians or their campaigns

9. Bipartisan Campaign reform act/McCain-feingold law (2002)
Banned use of soft money in federal campaigns
Increased limits on individual and group contributions to candidates

10. 527 organizations
Committees that are tax exempt in election campaign if they aren't affiliated with a political party
Take stance on issues, not candidates
Regulated by the IRS, not FEC
Used now because BCRA eliminated soft money

11. Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
Government cannot ban political spending by corporations in a candidate's election