Money and Elections Where the real control is!

Campaign Spending Presidential Election Presidential Election Obama spent over $500 million dollars Obama spent over $500 million dollars Senatorial Election Senatorial Election Average is just over $3 million per campaign Average is just over $3 million per campaign Congressional Election Congressional Election Average is $1.43 million per campaign Average is $1.43 million per campaign Gubernatorial Election Gubernatorial Election Last CA election was $54 million to win Last CA election was $54 million to win Most spending is on television advertising Most spending is on television advertising

Sources of Funding Private and Public Sources Private and Public Sources Small contributions Small contributions Less than $50, only 10% of voters contribute Less than $50, only 10% of voters contribute Large donations from wealthy families Large donations from wealthy families Candidate spending their own money Candidate spending their own money Various non-party groups Various non-party groups Political Action Committees (PAC)—political arm of special interest groups Political Action Committees (PAC)—political arm of special interest groups Public funds from national and state treasuries Public funds from national and state treasuries Why people, corporations, interest give Why people, corporations, interest give Form of political participation Form of political participation Believe in the party or cause Believe in the party or cause Quid pro quo Quid pro quo

Regulating Campaign Finance Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 FECA Amendments of 1974 & 1976 FECA Amendments of 1974 & 1976 Response to Watergate Response to Watergate Response to Buckley v. Valeo Response to Buckley v. Valeo Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 Congress cannot regulate state and local elections Congress cannot regulate state and local elections

Federal Elections Commissions Disclosure requirements Disclosure requirements Anything larger than $200 must be disclosed Anything larger than $200 must be disclosed Limits on contributions Limits on contributions No more than $2000/candidate for primary and then for general elections No more than $2000/candidate for primary and then for general elections No more than $5000 to a PAC No more than $5000 to a PAC No more than $25,000 to political party No more than $25,000 to political party No more than $95,000 total in a 2-year election cycle No more than $95,000 total in a 2-year election cycle PAC contributions PAC contributions Limits on expenditures Limits on expenditures Can only be voluntary due to Buckley v. Valeo, 1976 Can only be voluntary due to Buckley v. Valeo, 1976 Spending money is equated to free speech Spending money is equated to free speech Public funding of presidential campaigns Public funding of presidential campaigns

How can we fix this problem? How do you feel about public financing of political campaigns? How do you feel about public financing of political campaigns? In other words, should tax dollars pay for campaigns to allow poorer people to run and less influence from special interest? In other words, should tax dollars pay for campaigns to allow poorer people to run and less influence from special interest? Any other solutions, or is there even a problem? Any other solutions, or is there even a problem?

Interest Groups Role of Interest Groups Role of Interest Groups Groups of like-minded persons who join together to influence public policy at any level of gov’t Groups of like-minded persons who join together to influence public policy at any level of gov’t Pros—exercising 1 st Amendment right to petition & assemble, people shaping policy, holds politicians accountable Pros—exercising 1 st Amendment right to petition & assemble, people shaping policy, holds politicians accountable Cons—those with the most money are those that get political influence, sometimes what’s good for the country is not good for some interest groups Cons—those with the most money are those that get political influence, sometimes what’s good for the country is not good for some interest groups

Types of Interest Groups Business Groups Business Groups National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce National Restaurant Association National Restaurant Association Labor Groups Labor Groups AFL-CIO AFL-CIO UAW UAW UFW UFW Teamsters Teamsters YCTA YCTA

Interest Groups Agricultural Groups Agricultural Groups American Farm Bureau Federation American Farm Bureau Federation National Grange National Grange National Dairy Council National Dairy Council American Meat Institute American Meat Institute Professional Groups Professional Groups AMA AMA ABA ABA NEA NEA

Interest Groups Promoting Causes Promoting Causes ACLU ACLU Sierra Club Sierra Club National Rifle Association National Rifle Association National Wildlife Federation National Wildlife Federation Right-to-Life Right-to-Life Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood Promoting Welfare Promoting Welfare NAACP NAACP American Legion American Legion VFW VFW Mexican American Legal Defense Mexican American Legal Defense AARP AARP

Interest Groups Religious Organizations Religious Organizations National Councils of Churches National Councils of Churches National Catholic Welfare Council National Catholic Welfare Council Salvation Army Salvation Army Public-Interest Groups Public-Interest Groups Common Cause Common Cause League of Women’s Voters League of Women’s Voters Cal-Pirg Cal-Pirg

Interest Groups What Interests Groups Do! What Interests Groups Do! Influence public opinion Influence public opinion Propaganda—what you are going to do tomorrow Propaganda—what you are going to do tomorrow Influencing parties and elections Influencing parties and elections Make a list of interest groups that you think support each party Make a list of interest groups that you think support each party Lobbying—gaining influence with politicians through contributions or promise of votes or promise of retribution Lobbying—gaining influence with politicians through contributions or promise of votes or promise of retribution