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GOVT 312: Parties and Campaigns

GOVT 312: Parties and Campaigns. Lecture 18: Campaign Financing. Election Outcome. National Mood. District Partisanship. Election Outcome. National Mood. Candidate Type: Incumbent, Quality Challengers. Demographic Change. Incumbent Situation: Scandal, Age, Ambition. Money Raised.

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GOVT 312: Parties and Campaigns

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  1. GOVT 312: Parties and Campaigns Lecture 18: Campaign Financing

  2. Election Outcome National Mood

  3. District Partisanship Election Outcome National Mood Candidate Type: Incumbent, Quality Challengers Demographic Change Incumbent Situation: Scandal, Age, Ambition Money Raised

  4. Redistricting Term Limits Campaign Finance Laws District Partisanship Election Outcome National Mood Candidate Type: Incumbent, Quality Challengers Demographic Change Incumbent Situation: Scandal, Age, Ambition Money Raised

  5. An odd fact • The more money an incumbent spends, the less likely they are to win

  6. Federal Campaign$ • Presidential: very expensive, will top $1 billion in 2008 • Congressional: expensive • Average Senate 2004: $6.6 million • House race needs at least $1 million to be competitive • National Parties: • National party organizations • House and Senate campaign organizations

  7. Money Transfers • Coordinated spending: limited amount of money that parties spend in conjunction with candidates • Independent spending: unlimited amount of money parties spend without talking to candidates • Hybrid spending: money parties spend in support of “generic” advertising by candidates • Internal communications: money parties spend internally to mobilize their membership

  8. Hard vs. Soft money • Hard money: Money that candidates raise in accordance to FECA and BCRA limits • Soft money: Unlimited money that parties raised under FECA for mobilization and education purposes. Outlawed under BCRA • Some thought this would weaken the national parties, but they raised more hard money in 2004 than all money in 2000.

  9. State and Local Campaign$ • State and Local campaigns: Regulated by state campaign finance laws unless a federal election is on the ballot, then federal law can govern state and local party money • BCRA (Levin Amendment): state parties can raise soft money (limit $10,000/donor) • Some thought that this would strengthen state parties, but national parties were able to raise money. • Virginia: $11 million raised by state parties in 2004, compared to $39 million in New Jersey

  10. Seven sources of money • Candidate • Finance Committee • PAC Fundraising • The Party • Events • Direct Mail • Phoning

  11. Where to Find Information • www.opensecrets.org • www.fec.gov • http://www.followthemoney.org/ • www.vpap.org • www.maplight.org

  12. Who Gives? (H&B p.226) • Individuals • Self-financed candidates • PACs • Party Coordinated Expenditures • Limit of $33,780 per House election • Varies by state for Senate elections • Public Funding • Presidential (not congressional) and state and local (depending on state laws)

  13. Individuals • Limit of $2,000 per candidate per election (primary and general) • Individuals can give a maximum of $95,000 to all candidates, indexed for inflation, with no more than $37,500 to state and national parties • Limit of $25,000 to national party committees per year, aggregate limit of $57,500

  14. Political Action Committees • Long history of regulation of lobbyists going back to Progressive Era (when lobbyists were first required to register). • PACS were created by FECA of 1974 • A PAC can give $5,000 to an single candidate in a single election • A PAC can can give $15,000 to a national party • Top 10 PACs listed on p.230 • Listing is deceptive. Although unions go give the most, business PACs make up through their larger numbers.

  15. Campaign Spending • Contribution Limits • According to the Supreme Court Buckley v Valeo money = speech • Limits can only be set for candidates who agree to public financing • Presidential campaigns, limits vary by state • Must raise $5,000 in individual contributions of <$250 in 20 states • State and Local: limits vary by state law • Government can require public disclosure

  16. The Loopholes • Independent Expenditure Campaigns • Campaigns that can have no contact with a candidate’s campaign, but advocate for a candidate in an election • “Issue Advocacy” Ads • An ad that does not use the magic words “elect” “vote for” or “support” (BCRA bans these 90 days within an election) • 527 Groups: front organizations for independent expenditures and issue advocacy ads that do not have to disclose their contributors

  17. Where the Money Goes • “Targeted” Races: Close elections where outcome is uncertain. • Incumbents: to buy access for individuals and PACs, or is it a shakedown?

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