party funding

Question 1

what did the Federal Election campaign Act 1974 do?

Answer 1

result of Watergate, limited contributions that individuals, corporations and unions could give, to reduce reliance on wealthy donors

Question 2

how did the SC undermine the campaign Act (1974) with Buckley v Valeo?

Answer 2

court rules that limitations on what individuals or PACs could spend was unconstitutional

Question 3

how did congress weaken the campaign act (1974)?

Answer 3

congress allowed parties to raise money for voter registration and get out and vote drives, this is soft money

Question 4

what is soft money?

Answer 4

money donated to political parties instead of candidates to avoid finance limitations

Question 5

what is matching funds? when was it used?

Answer 5

between 1976-2008, presidential campaigns funded by this, it was federal money given by FEC given to candidates who met a criteria

Question 6

why did Obama opt out of matching funds in 2008?

Answer 6

obama opted out as it left him free from fundraising and spending limitations, which allowed him to outspend his opponent John mcCain

Question 7

how many candidates signed up for matching funds in 2016?

Answer 7

one democrat Martin O’Malley and green party candidate Jill Stein

Question 8

what was the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)?

Answer 8

proposed by John McCain (rep) and Russell Feingold (dem). this reformed:

• national party committees banned From soft money
• corporations couldn’t directly fund advertisements
• contributions by foreign nationals banned
• set limits on contributions to individual candidates

Question 9

what is a PAC? (political action committee)

Answer 9

raises limited amounts of money and spends them for the purpose of electing or defeating candidates. by giving money to candidates they support

Question 10

what did the SC decision of Citizens united v FEC (2010) grant?

Answer 10

gave corporate and labour organisations the same rights of free speech as individuals, giving the groups unlimited independent political expenditure

Question 11

what did SC decision of Speechnow.org v FEC (2010) grant?

Answer 11

led to setting up of super PACs

Question 12

what are super PACs

Answer 12

committee that makes independent expenditures only, they DO NOT make contributions to candidates

Question 13

which super PACs dominated 2016 election for democrats?

Answer 13

priories USA Action raised over $192 million for Clinton

Question 14

which super PACs dominated 2016 election for republicans?

Answer 14

Rebuilding America Now raised $22.6 million and Our Principles PAC raised $19 million

Question 15

what role did hybrid PACs play in 2016 election?

Answer 15

one in support of Clinton raised $10 million and one in support of trump raised over $28 million

Question 16

on which areas does money raised go?

Answer 16

• organisation- paying staff and organising offices in swing states.
• campaigning- travelling from states to hire venues, accommodation.
• media- in final weeks of 2016 campaign both candidates spent loads of money on media coverage, ads and social media