Vocabulary
What is Public Financing?
where taxpayers can choose to donate Extra money each year to government-funded campaigns (11% do that).
When was the Federal Election Commission created?
1975
Definition of Interest Groups
An organization of people who have policy goals and try to influence policymakers to accomplish these goals.
Tillman Act
The first campaigns finance act and prohibited “monetary contributions to federal candidates by corporations and nationally chartered (interstate) banks.” This act was… well enacted because a New York investigation was held and found that the New York Life Insurance Company had made a $48,700 contribution to Theodore Roosevelt's 1904 presidential campaign. This was considered “cheating” and was prohibited.
What do they provide?
They provide candidates for citizens to vote for and that eventually will get elected into office.
What is Hard Money?
Money given directly to candidates where limits and regulations apply.
When was the Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act created?
March 27, 2002
What do they affect?
They can affect public policymaking through lobbying, electioneering, litigation, gaining public support.
Hatch Act
Prohibits civil service employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the president and vice president, from engaging in some forms of political activity.
What do they promote?
They promote those candidates with the goal of getting elected.
What is Soft Money
Political donations given to the party that can avoid government regulations.
When was the 527 Groups created?
January 3, 1975
Are Political Parties and Interest groups similar?
They are not similar, political parties work to get candidates elected while interest groups work to get laws passed.
Smith Connelly Act
allows the federal government to seize and operate industries threatened by or under strikes that would interfere with war production, and prohibited unions from making contributions in federal elections.
Do political parties give money?
Parties raise money and give money to candidates running for office and nominate candidates for public office.
What is PACS?
An organization created to influence state/federal elections. Created by businesses/unions to support candidates $5000 limits. Money goes directly to candidate.
When was 501(c) 4 created?
1913
What do Interest Groups do?
They bring lawsuits against the government and make donations to candidates, influence lawmakers, and advertise issues on media/social media
FECA
adjudicates new claims for benefits and manages ongoing cases, pays medical expenses and compensation benefits to injured workers and survivors.
What else do they do?
When bills are passed, they contain one aspect that each party supports.
What are SUPERPACS?
Independent Expenditure Groups do not give directly to a candidate therefore do not have any limits on spending. May spend money on issues/advertising but not in connection with the campaign
Why were these groups created?
Passed a way to try and close financing loopholes that allowed soft money to influence elections
When was the first Interest Group created?
One of the earliest interest groups in the United States was the National Grange, founded in 1867
McCain-Feingold Act
The court ruled to ban soft money donations directly to political parties and it put limits on advertising that unions, corporations, and non-profit organizations can implement 60 days before an election.
Do political parties bribe citizens to vote for a specific candidate?
No, it is illegal to do that