Nominations and CampaignsNominations and Campaigns

CaucusesCaucuses

Vs. Vs.

PrimariesPrimariesHistory of Conventions.doc

1968 DNC - Chicago1968 DNC - Chicago

McGovern-Fraser McGovern-Fraser CommissionCommission

End of the “Smoke-Filled Room”End of the “Smoke-Filled Room” Convention Delegates would be Convention Delegates would be

selected by PRIMARIESselected by PRIMARIES Limits the power of Party LeadersLimits the power of Party Leaders Democrats:Democrats:SuperdelegatesSuperdelegates15% for “Peer15% for “PeerReview” Review”

FrontloadingFrontloading►Early Early CaucusesCaucuses and and PrimariesPrimaries

receive too much media attention- receive too much media attention- gives the media too much power to gives the media too much power to label winners and losers.label winners and losers.

►Distorts the campaign.Distorts the campaign.

Money and CampaignsMoney and CampaignsFederal Election Campaign Act (1974)Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)

Initiated Public Financing of Elections- the Initiated Public Financing of Elections- the Presidential Election Fund (Matching Funds in the Presidential Election Fund (Matching Funds in the primaries primaries with strings attachedwith strings attached). Led to the ). Led to the modern “Clean Elections” Movement.modern “Clean Elections” Movement.

Provided for federal funding in the General Provided for federal funding in the General Election- in 2004 Bush & Kerry got $75 million.Election- in 2004 Bush & Kerry got $75 million.

Limited individual contributions to $1000- in 2008 Limited individual contributions to $1000- in 2008 the amount increased to $2500.the amount increased to $2500.

Required candidates to report all contributions and Required candidates to report all contributions and account for how the money was spent.account for how the money was spent.

Created the Federal Election Commission.Created the Federal Election Commission.

FECA Legal Loopholes FECA Legal Loopholes 1.1. Soft Money- Soft Money- unlimited contributions to the unlimited contributions to the

Party. Party. Buckley v. Valeo (1976)Buckley v. Valeo (1976): : $ $ = Speech= Speech McCain-Feingold Act (2002) McCain-Feingold Act (2002) banned soft banned soft

money & issue ads 60 days before a money & issue ads 60 days before a general election, unless the ad is paid for general election, unless the ad is paid for by a FEC regulated PAC. Created New by a FEC regulated PAC. Created New Loopholes. . . 527’sLoopholes. . . 527’s

McConnell v. FEC (2003) McConnell v. FEC (2003) said McCain-said McCain-Feingold was constitutional in a 5-4 Feingold was constitutional in a 5-4 decision.decision.

2. Political Action Committees (PACs)- created 2. Political Action Committees (PACs)- created by interest groups to influence policy by interest groups to influence policy through campaign contributions. through campaign contributions.

Citizens United v. Citizens United v. Federal Election Federal Election

Commission Commission 20102010Rules that corporations may spend freely to Rules that corporations may spend freely to support or oppose candidates for president support or oppose candidates for president and Congress. The court overturns Austin v. and Congress. The court overturns Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, saying that Michigan Chamber of Commerce, saying that “the expenditure ban invalidated" in “the expenditure ban invalidated" in Buckley Buckley v. Valeo v. Valeo applies to corporations and unions, applies to corporations and unions, not just individuals. The ruling does not affect not just individuals. The ruling does not affect prohibition on direct contributions to prohibition on direct contributions to candidates from corporations and unions . . . candidates from corporations and unions . . . SUPER PAC’s SUPER PAC’s http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-17-2012/colbert-super-pac---not-coordinating-17-2012/colbert-super-pac---not-coordinating-with-stephen-colbertwith-stephen-colbert

Political Action Committees Political Action Committees The Sky’s the Limit for the Amount PAC’s can The Sky’s the Limit for the Amount PAC’s can

Spend Spend • PAC’s act independently of the candidate.PAC’s act independently of the candidate.• PAC’s must register with the FEC.PAC’s must register with the FEC.• 527’s527’s are like PAC’s, but don’t register with are like PAC’s, but don’t register with

the FEC (non profit – register w/IRS) & can the FEC (non profit – register w/IRS) & can receive unlimited soft money receive unlimited soft money contributions.contributions.

• Examples of 527’s in the 2004 Election: Examples of 527’s in the 2004 Election: Swift Boat Veterans for Truth & Swift Boat Veterans for Truth & MoveOn.org. MoveOn.org.

For More Info on Political Action CommitteesFor More Info on Political Action Committees

Changes in the Way Changes in the Way Corporations Can Finance Corporations Can Finance Campaigns Campaigns • Changes in the Way Corporations Changes in the Way Corporations

Can Finance Campaigns - Graphic - Can Finance Campaigns - Graphic - NYTimes.comNYTimes.com

• Lobbyists Get Potent Weapon in Lobbyists Get Potent Weapon in Campaign Finance Ruling - Campaign Finance Ruling - NYTimes.comNYTimes.com

2008 Democratic Primary2008 Democratic Primary

8 Minute Summary of the Longest 8 Minute Summary of the Longest Primary Battle in American Political Primary Battle in American Political

History:History:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid271557392/link/bcpid271557392/

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