US campaign finance and direct democracy

Question 1

self funded

Answer 1

Trump $66m into 2016 campaign but $8000 2020.
freedom from influence of donors. free of gov restrictions except disclosing to FEC.
perception that politics only for wealthy

Question 2

donations (hard money)

Answer 2

to specific candidates from supporters.
limited 2002- none over $2,800.
PACs- raise money for candidates up to $5000

Question 3

donations (soft money)

Answer 3

indirectly spent to promote candidates or attack opponents
super pacs- cant coordinate with candidates’ campaigns

Question 4

government funds

Answer 4

Obama 2008 rejected idea of gov matching donations in return for donation cap- could raise more than the cap by himself.
Romney used gov funds- last person to date

Question 5

arguments for campaign finance being regulated

Answer 5

1. election expenditure out of control. e.g. 2020 $14b- more money than previous 2 combined
2. fundraising distracts from real job, especially house reelected 2 years- constant campaigning
3. cost of elections = only wealthy and well connected can afford. e.g Trump $66m own money 2016

Question 6

arguments against campaign finance being regulated

Answer 6

1. fundraising & donations important part of democratic process- supporters show loyalty (hard money)
2. first amendment right- political activity e.g. McCutcheon v FEC
3. candidates still listen to wide range of voters- unwise to only be influenced by wealthy

Question 7

Buckley v. Valeo 1976

Answer 7

Buckley: money spent in campaigns was form of politcal expression not fincancial transaction
therefore regs violate 1st amendment.
SC: regs only cons. if focused on corruption so uncons due to no focus on this

Question 8

bipartisan campaign reform act 2002

Answer 8

stopped corporation “soft money”
defined poltical issue ads paid for by corps as “electioneering communications”
can’t broadcast within 30 days of primary or 60 of general election.
however 2007 FEC v Wisconsin, bans on corps paying for ads is uncons.

Question 9

McCutcheon v. FEC 2014

Answer 9

SC strike down caps on amount total amount people can donate to campaigns in total
5-4 that it limits free speech
however, didn’t impact limits to single candidate by single donor

Question 10

ballot initiatives

Answer 10

laws proposed by voters; if enough signatures, placed on ballot at election time
e.g. compulsory wearing of condoms by actors in adult movies initiative California 2016

Question 11

recall elections

Answer 11

voters force elected state official to face re-election before term over
e.g. 2012 Scott Waker Wisconsin R senator opp to leg restricitng public sector working rights. survived re-election
has been successful
e.g. Gray Davis California replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger

Question 12

referendums

Answer 12

state legislatures pass law but must submit to voters for approval
e.g. 2018 Alabama 78% voters supported state constitution amendment to allow display of 10 commandments in state courthouses

Question 13

money spent on direct democracy

Answer 13

vast sums spent
2020 total raised on campaigning over DD measures was $1.2b.
over $220 California alone on 1 initiative on app-based taxi drivers

Question 14

arguments for DD working well

Answer 14

1. allows variation of laws between states e.g. Alabama amendment
2. opps for pressure groups to be involved e.g. NRA 2014 backed measure in Alabama to strengthen 2nd amendment rights
3. improves accountability of state officials e.g. Scott Waker

Question 15

arguments against DD working well

Answer 15

1. already enough checks and balances (vetoes). adds opp for stalement and limits governers to do job
2. parties exploit DD to influence other election outcomes e.g. North Dakota 2018 Ds initiative on legalising of cannibis to attract young voters to vote for senator Heidi Heitkamp
3. “democratic overload”- ballots long and complex increasing costs of elections

Question 16

split ticket voting

Answer 16

used to be regular but has decreased
2016: every senate race correspond with how state voted in pres election
1982: midterms D won 17/28 senate contests held in states Reagan had won 1980

Question 17

consequences of split ticket voting

Answer 17

-divided gov
-split senate delegations e.g. 2020-22, 6 states incl. Ohio
-reps from split districts careful how they vote and support pres.

Question 18

low abstention levels

Answer 18

2016: 55% voting age population for pres. race, but 87% registered voters

2020: increased to 66%- Trump was polarising, and COVID-19 meant easier to vote by mail

Question 19

low absention in primaries

Answer 19

usually lower for primaries- around 30%
due to most ideological turnout and candidates pitch to extreme wings
e.g. 2017 Alabama senate by-election R selected controversial Roy Moore, but lost to D in election

Question 20

reasons for high abstention

Answer 20

• voter fatigue- so many ballots e.t.c feel disenfranchised with politics
  -many states uncompetitive- victory same party so vote little difference