5.10/5.11 Vocab

Question 1

Hard Money

Answer 1

campaign contributions regulated and limited by the federal government that are given directly to the government

Question 2

Soft money

Answer 2

unlimited and unregulated campaign contributions given to a candidate and the national parties. Supposedly for generic “Party Building” Activities. IE bumper stickers, yard signs, etc

Question 3

Political Action Committee

Answer 3

officially registered fund raising org. that represents interest groups in the political process

Question 4

527 Groups

Answer 4

tax exempt organizations created to raise money for political activities such as voter mobilization efforts and issue ads

Question 5

501c groups

Answer 5

non profic tax exempt interest groups that can engage in varying levels of political activity

Question 6

federal election campaign Act (1971, 1974)

Answer 6

increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns and 1974 amendments placed limits on campaign contributions.

Question 7

Bipartisan campaign reform act (aka McCain Feingold Act)

Answer 7

banned national parties and officeholders from raising and and spending “soft money”, and prohibited corporations and unions from funding “electioneering communications” within 30 days before the primary and 60 days before general election

Question 8

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Answer 8

candidates spending money to finance their own campaigns is a form of constitutionally protected free speech through the first amendment

Question 9

citizens united v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Answer 9

ruled that spending is protected speech under the 1st amendment, and the government cannot prohibit spending by corporations and labor unions to support or denounce individual candidates in elections

Question 10

McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (2014)

Answer 10

struck down limits on aggregate federal campaign contributions because they violate 1st amendment, left intact limits on individual