1. The Federal Election Commission and campaign finance Regulation

2. Key Terms to Remember
PAC: established by businesses, labor unions, and interest groups to channel money to campaigns
Hard money: contributions restricted by campaign law
Soft money: unregulated money contributed to parties for the purpose of party building activities
Issue ads: ads that seek to inform citizens about critical issues. Some claim that this is a loophole to campaign finance.

3. The Federal Election Commission is…
An Independent Regulatory Agency
Responsible for Enforcing Campaign Finance Law
Regulator of U.S. House, Senate and Presidential Elections

4. Major changes to the FECA
Set limits on contributions
Established the FEC
Buckley v. Valeo
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Banned soft money at the national level
Restricted issue ads
Increased contribution limits
Indexed limits for inflation
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
Government may NOT ban corporate spending in a political campaign

5. Other characteristics
Income tax check-off for public financing of presidential elections and party conventions
Establishes matching funds program for primary elections
First publicly funded election in 1976 (Ford v. Carter)
National elections ONLY…NOT state or local elections

6. Banned Contributions Foreign nationals Government contractors
Those with green cards are able to contribute
Government contractors
Corporations and Labor Unions
Contributions in the name of another
No cash contributions over $100

7. What counts as a contribution?
Any donated items such as office supplies and equipment
Discounted pricing
Fundraiser tickets
Loans and loan endorsements

8. Independent Expenditures
Money spent for a communication that specifically pushes for the election or defeat of a federal candidate
Not connected with a campaign organization
Does NOT count as contribution
Unlimited (Buckley)
Disclosure within communication