Campaign Finance LAws
What was the Buckley V. Valeo Case?
- Struck down spending limits; increased demand for money.
- Determined pres. candidates that accepted public funds have spending limits and those who don't accept public funds, do not have limits.
What are the purposes and actions of interest groups?
Work to get laws passed
- bring lawsuits against gov.
- make donations to candidates
- influence lawmakers (lobbying)
- advertise issues on social/media
- contribute to the campaign ads (tv/radio)
What do political parties do?
- major mechanism behind the creation of policies and leadership choice.
Current Electoral Voting?
- electros vote on Monday following the second Wednesday of December.
- Senate opens and counts ballots in January.
- To win candidate must earn 270 ( majority of 538 possible)
- winner must take over before January 20th or else VP takes over.
Role of Mass media?
- media is the key linkage between people and policymakers.
- people rely on media info to help them choose who to vote for.
- the media keeps the people informed
Difference between PACs and Super PACs?
PAC- influence state/federal elections, created by businesses/unions, $5,000 spending limit, money goes directly to the candidate.
Super PAC- independent expenditure group, don't give money directly to the candidate, no spending limits, can spend money on issues and advertising but not in connection with the campaign.
What is the National Rifle Association?
- Number one interest group in the US.
- successfully lobbied against stricter gun control measures.
What is the Necessity of Political Parties?
- help compromise take place on important issues
- help display true opinions of the American public.
- winner of the popular vote isn't guaranteed to win.
- constitution doesn't force electors to vote in the way of the popular vote.
- if no one receives 270 votes, HOR makes decision (lowest qualified members choosing the president)
what is the watchdog role of a free press?
- watches over government, ensuring they are serving public interests and conveying their findings to the people.
What is a 527 group?
- spending group; raises unlimited soft money funds for voter registration, issue advocacy, but not for a "specific candidate."
What is the US Chamber of Commerce as an interest group?
- biggest organizational spender in American politics.
- 1998-2014; 3 million members and $1 billion spent
- typically supports GOP candidates; Grand Old Party= Republican Party.
What does the Nominating and Informing and Activating Sport function do?
Nominating- nominate candidates for each public office and support them in winning
Informing and Activating Support- inform, inspire, educate, and advertise to voters.
District plan?
- 2 electors/state
- 1 elector/district
- allows 50/50 states, but is harder to reach 270 votes.
What is the free press function of setting public agenda?
- most people rely on media for info, so whatever media talks about is what people hear (agenda setting)
- When people are uninformed it's not an issue in the legislative arena.
Purpose of FEC?
Federal Election Commision- oversee and enforce campaign finance regulators.
- must disclose campaign finance info.
- enforce laws on spending and collection
- oversee funds given to presidential candidates.
What's the AFL-CIO Interest Group?
- labor union, represents over 12 million Americans.
- fought for safer working conditions and 8 hour work day.
What do the functions; Bonding Agent and Governing do?
Bonding Agent- helps ensure good performance of its candidate.
- background checks and ensures the quality of candidates.
Governing- candidates selected usually based on which party they represent.
- Most appointed positions are based on partisanship; selection is based only on the party.
Proportional Plan?
- each candidate gets some percentage of electoral votes as popular votes.
- splits popular vote more effectively
- still can struggle to get 270 votes.
what is the role of a free press in the exchange of ideas and opinions?
- freedom of the press allow us to share ideas about how the government should operate and what agenda the government should pursue.
McCain-Feingold Act?
- increased donations/person
- limited spending and advertising for business/unions 30 days prior to the election.
- a lot of this was overturned in the Citizens United Vs FEC case.
What has the National Association For the Advancement of Colored People accomplished?
- worked to end racial lunching and segregation founded in 1909.
- helped abolish the death penalty in 5 states.
- helped register 375,000 votes for the 2012 election.
WatchDog Function?
- criticizes political party in power
- provided scrutiny against ruling positions who differ in power.
Direct Popular Election?
- winner of the popular vote wins the election.
- each vote is equal.
- bad for small states with a small population, changes the constitution, weakens federal power.
How can politicians influence the media?
staging- press conference, candidates can control what is said.
spinning- granting interviews on or off the record to persuade the public to view an issue in a way that helps the candidate.
Leaking- an unofficial release of info to the media to expose corruption, stir up support, spin the way an event is covered, or gain favor with reporters.