1. Political Contributions www.opensecrets.org

2. Where do members of Congress get their election money? n http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/wher efrom.php?cycle=2012 n http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/index. php http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/index. php n Are there any conclusions we can draw from looking at these charts?

3. Political Action Committees (PAC) n Corporations, Unions, and Trade Associations donate money to parties and their campaign funds. n Minimum Requirements – At least 50 contributors (for employees and members only) – Donate to at least 5 different candidates – No more than $5,000 per year to a candidate – No more than $15,000 to the national party.

4. PAC (continued) n Over 4,000 PACs. Interest groups may also form PACS. n Half of the PACs represent corporations n 1,000 are issue oriented.

5. Soft Money n Contributions to political parties, instead of particular candidates. The money is used for party building activities like: – Get out the vote campaign. – Voter registration drives. – Expenses involved in day to day running of party headquarters. – Campaign propaganda that relates to the party rather than the candidates. – Fund raising events.

6. Soft Money Contributions

7. Banning of Soft Money n Article link: (http://content.time. com/time/nation/art icle/0,8599,218989, 00.html).http://content.time. com/time/nation/art icle/0,8599,218989, 00.html n What were some problems in banning soft money?

8. Super PACs n http://www.csmonitor. com/USA/Justice/201 0/0202/Supreme- Court-s-campaign- finance-ruling-just- the-facts http://www.csmonitor. com/USA/Justice/201 0/0202/Supreme- Court-s-campaign- finance-ruling-just- the-facts n http://www.opensecret s.org/pacs/superpacs.p hp http://www.opensecret s.org/pacs/superpacs.p hp n What are the pro’s and con’s of the Supreme Court decision?

9. 2012 Incumbent Advantage n http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/incu mbs.php

10. How you donate legally? n Try this link: n (http://elections.nytim es.com/2012/guide-to- political-donations).

11. Historical Congressional Reelection n http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/reele ct.php?cycle=2010