How Parties Raise And Spend Money Flashcards
What is soft money?
Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party building purposes. (Is illegal)
What are party independent expenditures?
Expenditures not made in coordination with the candidate. (Not directed by the candidate)
What is hard money?
Political Contributions given to a party candidate and is strictly regulated and fully disclosed
What type of countries have broader regulations on expenditures? (Wealthy or Unwealthy?)
Wealthy
Following the resignation of Richard Nixon, what happened to individuals contributions to parties?
Limited to 20,000 dollars.
Are political action committees more inclined to give to candidates or party committees?
Candidates
What does FECA stand for?
Federal Election Campaign Act which provides laws for regulating political campaign funding.
What did parties want after the election of 1976?
Pressed for further amendments to the FECA because they couldn’t raise sufficient funds for generic party activities.
What did the federal election commission do in response to the complaints about the FECA?
They permitted unlimited soft money.
What happened to Congress after unlimited soft money was permitted?
Congress kept getting defeated
As a result they regulated this soft money under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
What has the Supreme Court ruled about unlimited spending?
Can spend unlimited amounts on campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from candidates.
How did parties adapt to the BCRA?
By building larger individual donor base.
How does the FECA have anything to do with soft money?
Interpretations of the amendments made to this document and the legislation of Federal Election Committee permitted soft money.
What is the FEC?
The federal election commission can administer election reform laws.
What three strategies have reformers used to prevent abuse of political contributions?
- Impose limits on giving and receiving
- Require public disclosure of sources and uses of political money.
- Giving governmental subsidies to reduce reliance on campaign contributions.
