1. Campaign Finance Federal Election Campaign Act Buckley v. Valeo
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
McConnell v. FEC
Money is the mother’s milk of politics.
— Jesse Unruh, Speaker, California House of Representatives

2. Illinois 8th District Year Candidate Receipts PAC Contributions % 2008
R: Greenberg
D: Bean
$940,000
$3.0 mil
$110,000
$1.65 mil
12%
55%
2006
R: McSweeney
D: Bean
$5.1 mil
$4.3 mil
$460,000
$1.5 mil 9%
35%
2004
R: Crane
$1.6 mil
$1.2 mil
$491,000
73%
31%
2002
$695,000
$329,000
$550,000
$107,000
79%
32%
2000
D: Pressl
$1.1 mil
$285,000
$680,000
$46,000
64%
16%

3. House Campaign Expenses

4. Senate Campaign Expenses

5. Hard Money v Soft Money
Hard Money: Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.
Soft Money: Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get out the vote drives, not on behalf of a specific candidate.

6. Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
Contribution Limits:
By PACs, individuals, parties
From candidates to own campaigns

7. FECA: Contribution Limits
Recipients
Donors
Candidate
PAC
Party
TOTAL
Individual
$1,000
$5,000
$20,000
$25,000
MC PAC
$15,000 NL NA

8. Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
Contribution Limits:
By PACs, individuals, parties
From candidates to own campaigns
Expenditure Limits:
Candidates
Groups independent of candidates
Limits spending by candidates for presidential nominations (on a state-by-state basis and in total) and in the presidential general elections for those candidates who accept public funding.

9. Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
Contribution Limits:
By PACs, individuals, parties
From candidates to own campaigns
Expenditure Limits:
Candidates
Groups independent of candidates
Public Funding:
Presidential primary candidates
Presidential election candidates
Provides for public financing of presidential general election campaigns with funds from the income tax check-off.
Provides for partial public financing on a matching basis of presidential nominating campaigns. Candidates must raise $5,000 in 20 states.
Provides for subsidies to the two national parties for their convention expenses and to any minor party that polled 5% of the total vote in the previous presidential election.

10. FECA: Public Funding
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
Public Funds
23.7
29.6
35.4
65.4
38.8
56.3
55.8
26.5
Camp. Costs
66.8
127.8
135.7
208.6
117.0
233.1
328.6
599.6 %
35.5
23.2
26.1
31.4
33.2
24.2
17.0
4.4

11. Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
Contribution Limits:
By PACs, individuals, parties
From candidates to own campaigns
Expenditure Limits:
Candidates
Groups independent of candidates
Public Funding:
Presidential primary candidates
Presidential election candidates
Disclosure and Enforcement:
FEC
Candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, which are available to the general public and to the news media (see or
Establishes a Federal Election Commission appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate to regulate the campaign financing of candidates for president, senator, and representative.
“Follow the money trail.”
— Deep Throat

12. Buckley v. Valeo (1976) Before After Contribution Limits:
By PACs, individuals, parties
From candidates to own campaigns
Expenditure Limits:
Candidates
Groups independent of candidates
Public Funding:
Presidential primary candidates
Presidential election candidates
Disclosure and Enforcement:
FEC

13. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Increased contribution limits
Candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, which are available to the general public and to the news media (see or
Establishes a Federal Election Commission appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate to regulate the campaign financing of candidates for president, senator, and representative.
“Follow the money trail.”
— Deep Throat

14. BCRA: Per Candidate Contribution Limits
Recipients
Donors
Candidate
PAC
Party
TOTAL
Individual
$2,000
$5,000
$25,000
$95,000
MC PAC
$15,000 NL NA
INFLATION

15. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Increased contribution limits
Prohibited national parties from raising or spending soft money
Candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, which are available to the general public and to the news media (see or
Establishes a Federal Election Commission appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate to regulate the campaign financing of candidates for president, senator, and representative.
“Follow the money trail.”
— Deep Throat

16. Soft Money Contributions (in millions), 1992-2002

17. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Increased contribution limits
Prohibited national parties from raising or spending soft money
Required state and local parties to pay for federal elections with hard money
Candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, which are available to the general public and to the news media (see or
Establishes a Federal Election Commission appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate to regulate the campaign financing of candidates for president, senator, and representative.
“Follow the money trail.”
— Deep Throat

18. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Increased contribution limits
Prohibited national parties from raising or spending soft money
Required state and local parties to pay for federal elections with hard money
Prohibited federal candidates from raising or spending soft money
Candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, which are available to the general public and to the news media (see or
Establishes a Federal Election Commission appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate to regulate the campaign financing of candidates for president, senator, and representative.
“Follow the money trail.”
— Deep Throat

19. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Increased contribution limits
Prohibited national parties from raising or spending soft money
Required state and local parties to pay for federal elections with hard money
Prohibited federal candidates from raising or spending soft money
Prohibited corporations and unions from using soft money for electioneering communications
Candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, which are available to the general public and to the news media (see or
Establishes a Federal Election Commission appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate to regulate the campaign financing of candidates for president, senator, and representative.
“Follow the money trail.”
— Deep Throat

20. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Increased contribution limits
Prohibited national parties from raising or spending soft money
Required state and local parties to pay for federal elections with hard money
Prohibited federal candidates from raising or spending soft money
Prohibited corporations and unions from using soft money for electioneering communications
Required disclosure of electioneering communications
Candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, which are available to the general public and to the news media (see or
Establishes a Federal Election Commission appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate to regulate the campaign financing of candidates for president, senator, and representative.
“Follow the money trail.”
— Deep Throat

21. Electioneering Communications
Broadcast, cable or satellite communication;
That refers to a clearly identified federal candidate;
Is publicly distributed by a television station, radio station, cable television system or satellite system for a fee; and
Is distributed within 60 days prior to a general election or 30 days prior to a primary election to federal office.
Sponsor: Kentucky Democratic Party
Ad Frequency: 663 times between October 22 and November 3, 1998
ANNOUNCER: If Congressman Bunning gets his way, everything from milk to medicine would cost 30% more. Last week Jim Bunning said quote, "We ought to have a national sales tax."
That's right, Bunning would create a whole new federal tax. Bunning wants to raise our taxes, but voted for a tax loophole that has let billionaires renounce their citizenship to avoid paying U.S. taxes.
Tell Bunning, no loophole for billionaires, no new sales tax for working people.

22. Electioneering Communications
Sponsor: Kentucky Democratic Party
Ad Frequency: 663 times between October 22 and November 3, 1998
ANNOUNCER: If Congressman Bunning gets his way, everything from milk to medicine would cost 30% more. Last week Jim Bunning said quote, "We ought to have a national sales tax." That's right, Bunning would create a whole new federal tax. Bunning wants to raise our taxes, but voted for a tax loophole that has let billionaires renounce their citizenship to avoid paying U.S. taxes. Tell Bunning, no loophole for billionaires, no new sales tax for working people.

23. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Increased contribution limits
Prohibited national parties from raising or spending soft money
Required state and local parties to pay for federal elections with hard money
Prohibited federal candidates from raising or spending soft money
Prohibited corporations and unions from using soft money for electioneering communications
Required disclosure of electioneering communications
Required political parties to choose between making coordinated expenditures OR independent expenditures, but not both
Candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, which are available to the general public and to the news media (see or
Establishes a Federal Election Commission appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate to regulate the campaign financing of candidates for president, senator, and representative.
“Follow the money trail.”
— Deep Throat

24. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Increased contribution limits
Prohibited national parties from raising or spending soft money
Required state and local parties to pay for federal elections with hard money
Prohibited federal candidates from raising or spending soft money
Prohibited corporations and unions from using soft money for electioneering communications
Required disclosure of electioneering communications
Required political parties to choose between making coordinated expenditures OR independent expenditures, but not both
Prohibited minors from contributing
Candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, which are available to the general public and to the news media (see or
Establishes a Federal Election Commission appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate to regulate the campaign financing of candidates for president, senator, and representative.
“Follow the money trail.”
— Deep Throat

25. McConnell v. FEC (2003) Before After Increased contribution limits
Prohibited national parties from raising or spending soft money
Required state and local parties to pay for federal elections with hard money
Prohibited federal candidates from raising or spending soft money
Prohibited corporations and unions from using soft money for electioneering communications
Required disclosure of electioneering communications
Required political parties to choose between making coordinated expenditures OR independent expenditures, but not both
Prohibited minors from contributing

26. 527’S (THE NEW SOFT $$)
Named for the IRS tax code that gives life to these committees
A 527 group is created primarily to influence the nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates for public office.
Not subject to campaign finance laws

27. 527 Committees Cycle All 527s* Receipts All 527s* Expenses
527s (Excluding State Candidates & Parties)* Receipts
527s (Excluding State Candidates & Parties)* Expenses
2004
$599,202,432
$611,723,836
$434,023,186
$442,472,913
2006
$384,911,172
$429,380,273
$165,518,800
$206,337,527
2008
$425,561,881
$374,187,522
$201,276,654
$198,753,309

28. Top 5 Committees Receiving Money
See the full list
Top 5 Committees Receiving Money
Top 5 Committees Receiving Money
Committee
2008 Receipts
Service Employees International Union
$23,902,467
America Votes
$21,407,440
American Solutions Winning the Future
$18,593,115
The Fund for America
$12,142,046
EMILY's List
$11,659,922