1. Oct 15 – Gov – SAC Intro Agenda: Review – CFR SAC Intro Library: Research and Preparation Homework: Prepare your arguments and evidence for SAC Take Out: Notebook Pen/Pencil Book Goals: Explore the possible implications of McCutcheon, et al. v. FEC

2. $ always finds a way You give To Candidate You give 2500 Son gives 2500 Wife gives 2500 To PACs $5,000 PAC #1 $5,000 to Candidate Unlimited Express Advocacy (Indep) Unlimited Issue Advocacy $5,000 PAC #2 $5,000 to Candidate Unlimited Express Advocacy (Indep) Unlimited Issue Advocacy $5,000 PAC #3 $5,000 to Candidate Unlimited Express Advocacy (Indep) Unlimited Issue Advocacy To Parties 10,000…etc for Express Advocacy To 527s Unlimited $ for unlimited Issue Ads To 501(c) 4 Unlimited $ Unreported donors Unlimited Issue ads To Super PACs Unlimited $ (from Unlimited donors AND c4’s) Unlimited Express Advocacy (independent expenditures)

4. Rapidity of the growth of independent spending:

5. A representative democracy will break the vice of faction while keeping the system open so groups can participate and counterbalance each other! representative democracy counterbalance each other Is it better for representative democracy to keep or eliminate aggregate limits?

6. Introduction Supreme Court decisions re: campaign finance –Must weigh constitutionality AND effect on the American system of representative government. “Of the people, by the people and for the people” –WHO are the people? –WHAT are they are free to do? –HOW will their actions impact the system as a whole? Constitution - office holders are representatives of the people –Therefore should be chosen by the people Concerns re: campaign finance reforms –Process directly influences who is elected to office. –Does it give candidates, interest groups, and individuals with money unfair advantage or “more of a voice”? Campaign finance reforms (FECA, Buckley V. Valeo, the BCRA, and Citizen’s United v. FEC) have attempted to maintain a balance between the fairness needed in representative political system and constitutionally protected free speech McCutcheon, et al. v. FEC questions the established institutions, and the perception of balance and counterbalance in the system

7. McCutcheon v FEC Question the Courts Face: –Is the two-year aggregate campaign contribution limit constitutional under the First Amendment? But that’s not the REAL issue: –What is the impact of the decision? In other words, what will happen if aggregate limits go away? That’s the issue you’re dealing with. The case, your reading, and the information about CFR is background; your goal is to explore the issue from there.

8. Is it better for representative democracy to keep or eliminate aggregate limits? Use your textbook, notes and Opensecrets.org –Who is represented? –Is there a counterbalance? –What is the influence of $?