A Senator must raise…

2. A Senator must raise… Five THOUSAND dollars per day, every day, including holidays and weekends, for their six year term to achieve the average amount of campaign cash it takes to win a US senate seat.

3. US Senate The candidate with more campaign funds wins 83% of the time.

4. US House That number is 93% of the time.

5. Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

6. Citizens United . FEC

7. In 2012, over $10 billion was spent on local, state and federal elections.

8. The Donor Class… 32Wealthy Individuals 3.7 MILLION people =

9. The Root problem…

10. Political inequality affects issues we care about…

11. College affordability • The US is the most expensive place in the world to go to college. This is not a coincidence: In a government in which money equals power, students, who are often shackled by debt and have little to no ability to make campaign contributions, have limited power.

12. The Environment • In 2009, Congress came votes away from passing the American Clean Energy and Security act – a bill that would have mitigated climate change – however the oil and gas industry spent a record $175 million lobbying to keep the bill from passing in the Senate. • When Congress was actively debating whether or not to regulate fracking, contributions from the fracking industry spiked 41%.

13. Economic inequality • Obvious but… the super wealthy have wildly different priorities than most Americans. • 78% of Americans think that nobody working full time should fall below the poverty line; whereas only 40% of the wealthy agree.

14. And many other issues… • The Economy • Voting rights • Government dysfunction • Gun violence • Incarceration rates • Healthcare access • Worker rights • Etc. etc. etc.

15. The Movement

16. Solutions • Constitutional Remedies: • - A constitutional amendment to set a new paradigm for elections and corporate power in the United States. • Legislative Mitigation: • Disclosure of political spending • Source and size limitations on contributions • Small donor incentive programs

17. The Amendment • Congress and the states shall have the authority to regulate election spending; and • Corporations are not endowed with the same rights and privileges as human beings.

18. Organizing … people are organizing at the local, state and federal level. 16 states have called for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and related cases. 500 cities/towns have called for a constitutional amendment. 150+ Senators/Representatives in Congress have cosponsored amendment resolutions.

19. Students United For Democracy In 2014, students are adding our voices to the movement… KEY DATES: April 14th – 18th “Resolution Week” April 14th “Day Of Action”

20. Brainstorm Passing a resolution on campus Holding an Event on April 14th 1) What’s the process of passing a resolution on your campus? 2) Who will you need to influence to pass a resolution? 3) How can you raise awareness of the resolution? 4) What’s your organizing strategy? 5) What’s your communications strategy? 1) Could you hold a rally or a press conference instead? (SU4D trainers are here to help with specifics.) 2) What allies would you want to reach out to? 3) Who would you want to speak at your event? 4) Who will be in charge of alerting the media?

21. Contacts • Contact me at: [Fill In Contact Here] • www.StudentsUnitedForDemocracy.org • Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/studentsunitedfordemocracy