1. Primary Elections Lecture 6.7

2. A.A primary election is an election in which voters decide which of the candidates w/in a party will represent the party in the general election

3. B. Types of Primary Elections 1. closed (used in most states) -Only registered party members can vote to select party nominees

4. 2. Open -voters decide which party’s primary they will participate 3. Blanket (only in WA and CA) -all candidates on one ballot; split- ticket voting is allowed

5. Campaign Finance A.Campaigns are expensive and growing -candidates must spend more time raising money

6. B. Sources of Campaign Money 1. ind. Contributors and political parties 2. Political Action Committees (PACs) -formed by interest groups/corporations 3. Federal subsidies (presidential candidates only) 4. The candidates themselves a. Ross Perot spent @60 million in 2000 b. John Corzine spent @60 million in 2000 to become a NJ senator

7. C. Federal Election Campaign Acts (early 1970’s) 1. Established the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to regulate elections

8. 2. Disclosures (reporting) a. All candidates must report contributions over $100 (called hard money) b. Expenditures must also be reported -how campaign money is spent

9. 3. Subsidies (money) from the fed gov’t a. only for Presidential candidates b. Money comes from income tax check-offs c. all parties qualify with 5% of the vote

10. 4. Limitations a. Presidential candidates who take federal money are subject to spending limits b. Individual contribution limit set at $2,000 c. PAC contribution limit is $5,000

11. D. Congressional Campaigns 1. No federal subsidies=incumbent advantage 2. No limits on spending=incumbent advantage

12. E. Independent expenditures (527 organizations) 1. ex. Moveon.org: “Swiftboat Vets for Truth” 2. Mostly issue advocacy ads (tv commercials) 3. Supported by “free speech” argument 4. No limits on spending

13. F. Soft Money (money donated to political parties) 1. Spent on “party activities” to get out the vote 2. Not reported to FEC: no limits 3. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 banned soft money from federal elections -this law is being challenged in court

14. 4. the defense of soft money: Freedom of Speech