Campaign Finance Reforms

Question 1

1974 Federal Election Campaign Act

Answer 1

The 1974 Federal Election Campaign Act limited contributions that could be made by businesses and individuals but had a number of problems.

‘Soft money’ was donated to parties rather than candidates to get round finance campaign limits.

The Federal Election Commission had little power to enforce punishments against candidates who broke the rules.

Question 2

2002 McCain-Feingold Act

Answer 2

The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, called the McCain-Feingold reforms, introduced campaign finance limits.

The reforms banned party committees from raising ‘soft money’. The reforms required candidates to verbally endorse all advertising and stopped corporations advertising for candidates up to 60 days before the election. The reforms banned donations from foreign nationals.

Question 3

2010 Citizens United v FEC

Answer 3

In the 2010 Citizens United v FEC case, the Supreme Court removed laws that prevented businesses from funding political advertising because the laws were considered to violate First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.

Question 4

PACs and Super PACs

Answer 4

Political action committees (PACs) are organisations that spend limited money on supporting a candidate’s election or defeating a candidate they oppose.

Super Political action committees (PACs) are organisations that spend unlimited money on supporting or opposing a candidate but do not directly fund the candidate.

Question 5

2014 McCutcheon v FEC

Answer 5

In the 2014 McCutcheon v FEC case, the limit on individual contributions for election candidates of $48,600 was removed because it was ruled to violate the First Amendment right to free speech.