campaign finance requires reform

Question 1

intro: campaign finance is very important

Answer 1

2020 $14 million spent on election in total, most expensive in history

Question 2

paragraph 1: undermines democracy, wealthy individuals have disproportionate influence

Answer 2

• Sheldon & Miriam Adelson contributed $90 million to republican campaign in 2020
  -CEO MURRAY ENERGY donated $300,000 to Trump’s inauguration

Question 3

paragraph 2: reform would limit freedom of speech under first amendment

Answer 3

• CITIZENS UNITED v FEC 2010 ruled corporate funding of independent political broadcasts couldn’t be limited due to freedom of speech

Question 4

paragraph 3: does require reform to improve transparency and increase trust

Answer 4

-527 organisation contributed to dark money in 2020
- Lincoln Project spent $67 million in 2020 without full transparency due to dark money

Question 5

Paragraph 4: doesn’t need reform as reform is difficult and loopholes exploited

Answer 5

• FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT tried to limit individual contributions to $1.000 per individual and $5,000 per PAC but this was undermined by soft money
• DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE raised $122 million in soft money 1996

Question 6

Paragraph 5: does require reform as current system disadvantages smaller candidates, incumbents often win

Answer 6

• 2012 OBAMA $700 million war chest, out raised challenger MITT ROMNEY
• 2022 midterms 93% of house races won by candidate who spent the most

Question 7

paragraph 6: doesn’t require reform as impact overstated

Answer 7

• 2016 Trump $398 million Hillary $768 million but trump still won