Transcript
Page 1: American Government and Organization PS1301 Thursday, 14 October

American American Government and Government and

OrganizationOrganizationPS1301PS1301

Thursday, 14 OctoberThursday, 14 October

Page 2: American Government and Organization PS1301 Thursday, 14 October

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

The last presidential debateThe last presidential debate The The

Washington Post daily tracking pollWashington Post daily tracking poll Second midterm scheduled for next Second midterm scheduled for next

Thursday, October 14Thursday, October 14 Beware of the Beware of the

problem with exams and family tragproblem with exams and family tragedyedy. .

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An Example of the An Example of the ProblemProblem I’m going to miss your 12:00 POLS class because my Grandfather is in the I’m going to miss your 12:00 POLS class because my Grandfather is in the

hospital. He was working in his tool shed last night and his grinder sparked hospital. He was working in his tool shed last night and his grinder sparked some gunpowder next to him and the shed exploaded. He has 3rd degree some gunpowder next to him and the shed exploaded. He has 3rd degree burns on his arms, hands, and back. Im sorry for the inconvience and if you burns on his arms, hands, and back. Im sorry for the inconvience and if you could let me know what we did in class on wendsday i would appriciate it. could let me know what we did in class on wendsday i would appriciate it. Sorry again. –Sorry again. –Texas Tech Student, Fall 2003Texas Tech Student, Fall 2003

Again i want to apologize first, my friend is in extream pain and doesn't have a Again i want to apologize first, my friend is in extream pain and doesn't have a car down here for to take herself to the hospital so i am going to drive her car down here for to take herself to the hospital so i am going to drive her there. It is 11:05 right now im going to do everything that I can to make it to there. It is 11:05 right now im going to do everything that I can to make it to class but if I dont make it in time that is where I will be. I just wanted to class but if I dont make it in time that is where I will be. I just wanted to inform you with my problem and if there is anything i can do to make up what inform you with my problem and if there is anything i can do to make up what we go over in class let me know please. Thanks –we go over in class let me know please. Thanks –The Same Texas Tech The Same Texas Tech Student, Fall 2003Student, Fall 2003

Im sorry i will be missing your 12:00 to 12:50 POLS class. I have to go back Im sorry i will be missing your 12:00 to 12:50 POLS class. I have to go back home to the hospital becuase my grandfather will be having surgury at 1:00. home to the hospital becuase my grandfather will be having surgury at 1:00. Sorry for this inconvience. Sorry for this inconvience. The Same Texas Tech Student, Fall 2003The Same Texas Tech Student, Fall 2003

Im am very sorry that i have to miss your test. Earlier this moring there was a Im am very sorry that i have to miss your test. Earlier this moring there was a death in my family and I had to find a flight home. I will be back around 5:00 death in my family and I had to find a flight home. I will be back around 5:00 on sunday so I was wondering when it would be a good time to talk to you on sunday so I was wondering when it would be a good time to talk to you about the test that I'm missing. What do I need to do to make up for that zero about the test that I'm missing. What do I need to do to make up for that zero in the grade book. Because obviously I cannot afford to have a zero for my test in the grade book. Because obviously I cannot afford to have a zero for my test grade. If you have any questions and would like to get ahold of me you can try grade. If you have any questions and would like to get ahold of me you can try my cell phone at xxx xxxx. Or just e-mail me back please. Again im sorry for my cell phone at xxx xxxx. Or just e-mail me back please. Again im sorry for the inconvience. the inconvience. The Same Texas Tech Student, Fall 2003The Same Texas Tech Student, Fall 2003

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Attitudes about Campaign Attitudes about Campaign FinanceFinance

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Campaign MoneyCampaign Money A good candidate and a good message are A good candidate and a good message are

not enough. Without money, the voters do not enough. Without money, the voters do not see the candidate or hear the message.not see the candidate or hear the message.

In contemporary candidate-centered In contemporary candidate-centered campaigns, candidates (as opposed to the campaigns, candidates (as opposed to the party organizations) must assemble their party organizations) must assemble their own campaign teams, raise their own own campaign teams, raise their own money, hire consultants and technical money, hire consultants and technical specialists, and design and execute their specialists, and design and execute their own individual campaign strategies.own individual campaign strategies.

Recent elections reflect the rise in cost.Recent elections reflect the rise in cost.

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Regulating Campaign Regulating Campaign MoneyMoney

Taxpayers partially finance presidential Taxpayers partially finance presidential campaigns, but most of the money spent campaigns, but most of the money spent on congressional elections comes from on congressional elections comes from private sources.private sources.

But money is distributed very unequally, But money is distributed very unequally, thus its role in electoral politics threatens thus its role in electoral politics threatens democratic equality and raises the democratic equality and raises the suspicion that elected officials will serve suspicion that elected officials will serve as the agents of their contributors rather as the agents of their contributors rather than their constituents.than their constituents.

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Efforts to Regulate Campaign Efforts to Regulate Campaign MoneyMoney Prior to the 1970s campaign money was Prior to the 1970s campaign money was

effectively unregulated.effectively unregulated. Congress had passed some limits on Congress had passed some limits on

contributions and spending.contributions and spending. The Corrupt Practices Act of 1925, which The Corrupt Practices Act of 1925, which

placed unrealistically low limits on placed unrealistically low limits on spending in congressional elections, was spending in congressional elections, was in force for more than four decades, but in force for more than four decades, but no one was prosecuted under the act.no one was prosecuted under the act.

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Efforts to Regulate Campaign Efforts to Regulate Campaign MoneyMoney

As campaigns became more candidate-As campaigns became more candidate-centered and broadcast campaigning centered and broadcast campaigning became the standard, costs increased became the standard, costs increased the demand for money, but many the demand for money, but many began to fear that winners would favor began to fear that winners would favor contributors over constituents.contributors over constituents.

The legal response to this situation The legal response to this situation was the Federal Election Campaign was the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.Act of 1971.

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Federal Election Campaign Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA)Act of 1971 (FECA)

Required candidates running for political Required candidates running for political office office disclosedisclose an itemized accounting of an itemized accounting of all expenditures and donations of more all expenditures and donations of more than $100. than $100.

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FECA 1974FECA 1974

Instituted a system for public Instituted a system for public financing of presidential elections. financing of presidential elections.

Limited individuals to $1,000 and Limited individuals to $1,000 and $5,000 for groups. Created political $5,000 for groups. Created political action committees (PACs)action committees (PACs)

Spending limits were also set for Spending limits were also set for congressional racescongressional races

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Legal ChallengesLegal Challenges In In BuckleyBuckley v. v. ValeoValeo (1976) the Supreme Court (1976) the Supreme Court

upheld the reporting requirements and upheld the reporting requirements and contribution limits, but rejected spending limits contribution limits, but rejected spending limits on the grounds that they interfered with political on the grounds that they interfered with political speech.speech.

Also rules that individuals could spend unlimited Also rules that individuals could spend unlimited amounts of money on the election or defeat a amounts of money on the election or defeat a candidate candidate as long as those expenditures were not as long as those expenditures were not coordinated with the candidate or party coordinated with the candidate or party campaigns.campaigns.

Candidate self-financing-the “millionaire’s Candidate self-financing-the “millionaire’s exception”.exception”.

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The Campaign Finance The Campaign Finance Regulation SystemRegulation System

Campaign finance operates through two Campaign finance operates through two parallel systems: parallel systems:

Money going directly to candidates is subject Money going directly to candidates is subject to limits on the size of contributions and full to limits on the size of contributions and full disclosure of sources.disclosure of sources.

Presidential candidates who accept public Presidential candidates who accept public funds also must observe spending limits. But funds also must observe spending limits. But money raised and spent outside of the money raised and spent outside of the candidates’ campaigns (soft money, issue candidates’ campaigns (soft money, issue advocacy) is lightly regulated and not subject advocacy) is lightly regulated and not subject to limits.to limits.

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The Flow of Campaign The Flow of Campaign MoneyMoney

Critical to the recent reform was the fact Critical to the recent reform was the fact that the unregulated campaign finance that the unregulated campaign finance system (soft money) outpaced the regulated system (soft money) outpaced the regulated system.system.

Spending in House and Senate campaigns Spending in House and Senate campaigns also has continued to grow since FECA took also has continued to grow since FECA took effect, rising by an average of about 7 effect, rising by an average of about 7 percent from one election year to the next.percent from one election year to the next.

A great deal of variation, however, exists A great deal of variation, however, exists among congressional candidates. Some raise among congressional candidates. Some raise and spend a great deal, others do not.and spend a great deal, others do not.

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How Money is SpentHow Money is Spent

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Soft MoneySoft Money Concerned that spending limits were Concerned that spending limits were

choking off traditional local party activity choking off traditional local party activity in federal elections, Congress liberalized in federal elections, Congress liberalized FECA in 1979, amending the act to allow FECA in 1979, amending the act to allow unrestricted contributions and spending for unrestricted contributions and spending for state and local party-building and get-out-state and local party-building and get-out-the-vote activities. These monies are the-vote activities. These monies are commonly called commonly called soft moneysoft money..

In March of 2002, Congress passed a law In March of 2002, Congress passed a law prohibiting prohibiting national national parties from raising parties from raising and spending soft party money for federal and spending soft party money for federal candidates.candidates.

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Bipartisan Campaign Bipartisan Campaign Reform Reform

Act of 2002Act of 2002 Also know as McCain-Feingold (who sponsored Also know as McCain-Feingold (who sponsored

the legislation).the legislation). First, the law prohibits raising and spending of First, the law prohibits raising and spending of

“soft money” for federal candidates.“soft money” for federal candidates. Second, the law redefines what constitutes a Second, the law redefines what constitutes a

campaign advertisement, subject to the disclosure campaign advertisement, subject to the disclosure requirements and contribution limits and requirements and contribution limits and contribution source restrictions of federal law. contribution source restrictions of federal law.

Third, it raised the limits on "hard money." The Third, it raised the limits on "hard money." The limits on how much an individual can give to a limits on how much an individual can give to a federal candidate rose to $2,000 an election, from federal candidate rose to $2,000 an election, from $1,000, with subsequent increases allowed for $1,000, with subsequent increases allowed for inflation.inflation.

Upheld by the Supreme Court in 2003.Upheld by the Supreme Court in 2003.

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Changes in Contribution Changes in Contribution Limits (Hard Money)Limits (Hard Money)

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Issue AdvocacyIssue Advocacy 527 groups (Named after Section 527 of the IRS code) 527 groups (Named after Section 527 of the IRS code)

are tax-exempt organizations that engage in political are tax-exempt organizations that engage in political activities, often through unlimited soft money activities, often through unlimited soft money contributions. contributions.

Most are advocacy groups trying to influence federal Most are advocacy groups trying to influence federal elections through voter mobilization efforts and so-elections through voter mobilization efforts and so-called issue ads that tout or criticize a candidate's called issue ads that tout or criticize a candidate's record. 527s must report their contributors and record. 527s must report their contributors and expenditures to the IRS, unless they already file expenditures to the IRS, unless they already file identical information at the state or local level. identical information at the state or local level. See See opensecrets.orgopensecrets.org for a list of these groups and their disclosures for a list of these groups and their disclosures

The problem is that the tax code is sufficiently complex The problem is that the tax code is sufficiently complex to allow these groups to remain obscure and avoid to allow these groups to remain obscure and avoid most forms of disclosure.most forms of disclosure.

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Regulation on Political Regulation on Political AdsAds

Advocacy vs. issue adsAdvocacy vs. issue ads Does it include magic words such as “vote for” “elect” or “vote Does it include magic words such as “vote for” “elect” or “vote

against”?against”? Most “issue ads” avoid the words but are still advocacy adsMost “issue ads” avoid the words but are still advocacy ads "Last year, John McCain voted against solar and renewable "Last year, John McCain voted against solar and renewable

energy. That means more use of coal-burning plants that energy. That means more use of coal-burning plants that pollute our air. Ohio Republicans care about clean air. So does pollute our air. Ohio Republicans care about clean air. So does Governor Bush. He led one of the first states in America to Governor Bush. He led one of the first states in America to clamp down on old coal-burning electric power plants. Bush’s clamp down on old coal-burning electric power plants. Bush’s clean air laws will reduce air pollution more than a quarter clean air laws will reduce air pollution more than a quarter million tons a year. That’s like taking 5 million cars off the million tons a year. That’s like taking 5 million cars off the road. Governor Bush, leading, for each day dawns brighter."road. Governor Bush, leading, for each day dawns brighter."

The BCRA provides a better definition: Any broadcast The BCRA provides a better definition: Any broadcast advertisement that depicts a candidate within 30 days of a advertisement that depicts a candidate within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election, and is primary election or 60 days of a general election, and is targeted to the voting constituency of that candidate, targeted to the voting constituency of that candidate, constitutes an electioneering communication, subject to constitutes an electioneering communication, subject to federal campaign laws. federal campaign laws.

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Independent AdsIndependent Ads

Swift Boat VeteranSwift Boat Veterans for Truths for Truth

Moveon.orgMoveon.org

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Comparisons with Other Comparisons with Other CountriesCountries


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