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Unit 2

Unit 2. Ch 6-11 Inputs to US Government. Campaign Finance. Early days No restrictions on hard money Direct donations to candidates from people/organizations Concerns about corruption Big donors “buying” politicians. Campaign Finance Laws. Reform lacked support among elected officials

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Unit 2

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  1. Unit 2 Ch 6-11 Inputs to US Government

  2. Campaign Finance • Early days • No restrictions on hard money • Direct donations to candidates from people/organizations • Concerns about corruption • Big donors “buying” politicians

  3. Campaign Finance Laws • Reform lacked support among elected officials • Elected from existing system • Reform might jeopardize ability to keep winning

  4. FECA (1971) • Federal Election Campaign Act • 1st major campaign finance reform • Sought to limit influence of big $ in US elections • Amended – strengthened in 1974 • Corruption concerns post-Watergate

  5. FECA (1971) • Limits placed on campaigns: • Use of candidate’s personal money • Donations by private citizens • Expenditures made by campaign • Disclosures to Federal Election Commission required

  6. Buckley v. Valeo • Overturned limits on: • Use of candidate’s own money • Expenditures of campaign • Allowed limits on donors

  7. Current donation limits • All numbers are annual • Individual  candidate: $2500 • Individual  natl party: $30,800 • Individual  state party: $10,000 • All donations within 2 years can’t exceed $117,000

  8. Campaign Finance Laws • Soft money • Donations to political party • Used for “party building activities” • Not used for direct campaigning, but close – supporting candidates • Not regulated under FECA • So was unlimited

  9. BCRA (2002) • Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act(McCain-Feingold Law) • Limited donations to parties • Stopped unlimited soft money • Req “stand by your ad” statements “I’m (name) and I approve this message”

  10. Campaign Finance Laws • So what do big donors do? • Want to fund campaigns (ads) • Can’t donate big $ to candidate • Can’t donate big $ to parties • Spend big money on own ads

  11. Campaign Finance Laws • 527 groups • IGs running own political ads • Can’t coordinate activities with parties or campaigns (!)

  12. Campaign Finance Laws • Pres. Election Campaign Fund • Taxpayers may designate $3 of their income tax to the fund • No corresponding increase in income tax (IRS loses $3) • < 10% of taxpayers designate

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