Transcript Campaign Finance

Alternate Plans
• Direct Election
• Only way that president will be popularly elected (no minority presidents)
• Proportional
• Closest to popular vote while still keeping the electoral college
• District Plan
• Used by Nebraska and Maine
• National Popular Vote
• One of the more popular options. No constitutional change, but need
enough states to sign on
Campaign Finance
Today’s Agenda
• Objective: Students will be able to explain campaign
finance, including its limits and loopholes, and how it
affects elections.
• Essential Skill: Explicitly assess information and draw
conclusions.
Types of Campaign
Contributions
• To the Candidate/Campaign (Hard)-Limited
• Individuals
• Candidates
• PACs
• Parties
• To the Party (Soft)-Unlimited
• 527
• Super PAC
• 501c
Campaigns
1974 Federal Election Campaign Act
• Public financing of presidential elections
• Limits on spending if accept public finance
• Created Federal Election Commission
• Required candidates and donors to report donations to
the FEC, with caps now on donations
Campaigns
Loopholes within the FECA
• No limits on donations to party (“soft money”)
• No limits on party spending for “get out the vote” drives
(“soft money”)
• No limits on number of political action committees
• “bundling”
Campaigns
2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
• Closed soft money loophole
• Raised the limits on PAC contributions and other
donations
• Bans “group sponsored” ads 30 days prior to a primary
and 60 days prior to general election
Campaigns
• Loopholes
• PACs could raise unlimited amounts of money
• 527 Organizations -- nonprofit issue advocacy groups
Campaigns
• With the Supreme Court Case Citizens United vs. FEC
• Limiting spending on politics by corporations is a form of
limiting free speech
• Lifted some of the regulations on spending and disclosure
• Led to the creation of SuperPACs
• Very controversial and divisive
Unlimited
• Candidates
• Unless they accept public funds
• 501(c)s
Campaigns
• In 2008 House elections, in only 2% of the
races did the candidate with lower campaign
contributions win
• In 2008 Senate races, in only 6% of the races
did the candidate with lower campaign
contributions win.
Campaigns
• Better financed campaigns generally have a
better chance of success
• They can hire better talent
• They can buy advertising to rebut or make
charges
• They can extend the campaign longer and
respond to changes in the election atmosphere
Review Game
When your team is asked a question anyone who
wants to answer can stand up
If you answer correctly you get as many points as
people who stood up
If you answer incorrectly the other team can steal
those points by answering correctly
What age group makes up our
most likely voters?
Are males, or females more likely
to vote?
Name someone who cannot vote
Describe an average Democratic
voter
How does name calling work as a
propaganda device?
What is one main argument for
compulsory voting?
What is a closed primary?
What is a blanket primary?
Who can participate in a caucus?
Which is more popular, primaries
or caucuses?
Which of the two phases of the
presidential election would you
find a caucus?
How does the presidential
election process connect to
federalism?
How are electoral votes decided?
What is a traditional PAC?
What type of campaign
contribution has no limits or
disclosure requirements?
When are the general elections?
What are two main goals of the
national party conventions?
What is the point of the primary
elections?
What is one of the main
criticisms of the electoral
college?
Which alternative election plan
will guarantee that a minority
president is not elected?
Which plan is currently used by
Maine and Nebraska?
How many electoral votes are
needed to win?
What is the final step in the path
to the presidency?
Who officially elects the
president?
How did SuperPACs develop?