Is US election campaign finance out of control?

Open Ended

What impact do you think recent reforms have had on campaign financing in US elections?

Multiple Choice

Why is campaign finance considered a significant issue in US elections?

• It determines the outcome of elections

• It influences the policies of elected officials

• It affects the fairness and transparency of the election process

• It has no impact on elections

Multiple Choice

What are the two defining features of the general election campaign period in the US?

• Campaign finance and television debates

• Party conventions and rallies

• Voter registration and polling

• Media coverage and endorsements

Multiple Select

Which of the following are reasons why funding is so important in US elections?

• High cost of TV advertising

• Size of country – 50 states

• Diversity of voters – need for targeted campaigns

• All of the above

Open Ended

Explain why campaign finance is considered so important in US elections.

Multiple Choice

Based on the trends shown, which candidate spent the most money in a US presidential election?

• Barack Obama

• Joe Biden

• Donald Trump

• Hillary Clinton

Fill in the Blanks

The total spending on the 2020 US congressional and presidential elections was

billion dollars.

Open Ended

List three reasons why money is so important in US elections.

Multiple Choice

What event led to Congress changing federal laws on campaign finance in the 1970s?

• The election of Richard Nixon

• The Watergate scandal and Nixon's resignation

• The Vietnam War

• The Great Depression

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT one of the six key events that have shaped campaign finance in US elections?

• Federal Elections Campaign Act

• Buckley v Valeo

• Citizens United v FEC

• Affordable Care Act

Open Ended

What are some of the limitations that now face candidates when trying to raise money for their election campaigns, and what are some ways they can get around these limitations?

Fill in the Blanks

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) required all campaigns to disclose who had donated money and how much they had donated. It also set limits to

and corporate donations.

Open Ended

According to the information provided, why did Barack Obama opt out of matching funds in 2008, and what was the impact of this decision on his campaign?

Multiple Select

Which of the following were reforms introduced by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002?

• Banned 'soft money' donations

• Allowed foreign nationals to contribute

• Required candidates to verbally endorse campaign ads

• Forbade labor unions and corporations from directly funding issue advertisements

Multiple Choice

Which Supreme Court case led to the creation of Super PACs by equating money with free speech?

• Buckley v. Valeo

• McConnell v. FEC

• Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

• Shelby County v. Holder

Fill in the Blanks

The ruling in Citizens United v. FEC made it difficult to limit campaign spending due to the protection of

speech.

Open Ended

What did campaign financing look like before the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission court case?

Multiple Select

Select all the characteristics of Super PACs after the Citizens United v FEC decision.

• Can make unlimited contributions directly to candidates

• Can spend unlimited amounts during campaigns

• Can collect unlimited contributions from corporations

• Are forbidden to make direct contributions to candidates

Multiple Choice

How much money did super PACs spend in the 2024 US election?

• $46 million

• $2,700,000,000

• $200 million

• $875 million

Multiple Choice

Which campaign received the highest amount of funding according to the diagram?

• Donald Trump for President 2024

• MAGA

• Harris for President

• Future Forward

Open Ended

Do you agree or disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision that money equals freedom of speech? Explain your reasoning.

Fill in the Blanks

What was the name of the important 2010 Supreme Court case concerning campaign finance?

Open Ended

Why is campaign finance considered important in US elections, and what impact have recent reforms had on campaign financing?

Open Ended

Evaluate the view that campaign finance in US presidential elections is out of control and undemocratic.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT an argument that campaign finance in US presidential elections is out of control and undemocratic?

• Campaign spending in recent elections has gone up enormously.

• Creation of Super PACs with limited regulation.

• Direct campaign spending from presidential candidates has actually decreased.

• Supreme Court cases have failed to tackle the issue.

Open Ended

What are some of the key features of US campaign finance that contribute to controversy?

Multiple Select

Select all the reasons why campaign finance reform is difficult in the US.

• Supreme Court rulings make it hard to limit spending.

• Politicians benefiting from the current system are unlikely to change it.

• There are no loopholes in campaign finance laws.

• The Federal Election Commission is often gridlocked politically.

Open Ended

Can you remember 5 key functions of National Party Conventions (either formal or informal)?