1. Campaign Finance and Spending

2. What needs to be funded for a campaign? Campaigns include a variety of people Campaign manager Staff → Includes a hierarchy from consultants and speech writers down to volunteers Publicity-flyers, bumper stickers, etc. Travel Elections Advertisments

3. Where does the money come from? CANNOT come from foreign donations Americans abroad can donate Personal funding Public Financing – “pays the valid expenses of their political campaigns” Has limitations Candidate cannot spend more then $10 million minus cost of living Limit of $50,000 in personal spending Fund consists of donations made on federal tax returns up to $20 million Obama turned it down in 2008

4. $$ Stephen Colbert on Super PACs PAC and Super PAC (Political Action Committees) Private Donations Does not need to be disclosed if under $1,000

5. Campaign-Finance Laws 1971 Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) Restricted amount spent in mass media Limited candidate personal contributions Taxpayers could choose to donate $1 (now $3) on their federal tax return for public funding, used first in 1976 FECA amended in 1974 Created the Federal Election Commissions (FEC) Candidates must agree to spending limit – overturned in 1976 Must file reports with FEC that lists contributions and how money was spent $25,000 max for individuals, $50,000 for groups

6. Soft Money Individuals and corporations can donate to political parties Parties then host functions, pay for ads, fund grassroots organizations By definition: harder to trace connections betw. donor and candidate

7. Major Changes and Reforms McCain/Feingold 2002 - bipartisan Addressed “soft money” – must adhere to limits Use of issue advocacy ads w/in 30 or 60 days of elections Overturned by Citizens United v Federal Election Commission (FEC) Citizens United v FEC Gave corporations the same First Amendment rights as citizens PACs and Super PACS can air campaign ads within 30 days of the election Includes a number of rules and limitations Donors are largely undisclosed

8. Changes Contd. Obama was the first to use the internet and minor ($5) donations in the 2008 election Similar to the text campaign used by the Red Cross for natural disaster relief

9. Intro to Citizens United News Report on Citizens United Should we be alarmed?

10. PAC and Super PAC Mitt Romney... Americans for a better tomorrow, tomorrow

11. Super PAC Spending Super Pacs...note their innocuous titles...

12. Today’s Agenda! We will host our own debate about Citizens United to clarify the two sides of the argument Questions to consider while reading your side Focus on the constitutional rights afforded to corporations by the case How does this case change the campaigns of today’s politicians? What constitutional issues are being discussed? How does this affect your campaign?

13. Debate With your group spend 5 minutes electing 2 people to present an opening statement about why your side is correct. Also elect 2 students for a closing argument who will take notes and finish up the debate All students must participate once

14. ‘Ticket out the door’ How has Citizens United changed the face of campaign finance and the election process? Do you agree or disagree with the decision? HW: Write your “reaction” to a SuperPAC offering to donate $5 million to your campaign in the form of both ground support and attack ads. This SuperPAC is either more liberal or conservative than your original platform.