5.10 & 5.11 - Modern Campaigns

Which of the following criticisms of political campaigns is the author of the political cartoon most likely to agree with?

• Political campaigns have not adequately adapted to the increase in social media usage in modern society.

• Rising campaign costs and intensive fund-raising efforts make running for office too expensive for the average citizen.

• The duration of election cycles is too long.

• Candidates rely too heavily on professional consultants.

Which of the following statements about political action committees (PACs) is true?

• PACs may give unlimited contributions to the election campaigns of individual candidates.

• PAC spending has not kept pace with inflation.

• PAC activity is limited to direct contributions to candidates.

• Social issue groups are the source of most PAC dollars.

• PAC spending makes up a higher percentage of congressional campaign funds than of presidential campaign funds.

Which of the following is true of political action committees (PACs) ?

• They make campaign contributions in hopes of gaining access to legislators.

• They are a part of political party organizations.

• They are allowed to contribute to only one candidate in any election.

• They nominate candidates for president at national party conventions.

• They operate at the state level but not at the national level.

Which of the following is NOT a way in which the federal government regulates campaigns?

• By requirements for disclosure of campaign donations

• By establishment of federal agencies to regulate campaign finance activities

• By limits on the distribution of soft money

• By limits on individual donations to campaigns

• By prohibitions on negative advertising

Which of the following is a correct statement about political action committees (PAC's)?

*This item is subject to changes in the campaign finance laws

• The number of PAC's has remained stable over the past decade.

• Most PAC money is distributed to challengers in an effort to unseat hostile incumbents.

• The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law.

• PAC's are illegal in most states.

• PAC's rarely attempt to influence legislation through lobbying activities.

When contributing to congressional campaigns, political action committees (PACs) are most likely to contribute to

• incumbents of both major parties

• third-party challengers

• Republican challengers

• state party organizations

• national party organizations

The primary function of political action committees (PAC's) is to

• serve as fund-raising organizations for challengers

• provide members of Congress with unbiased information regarding proposed legislation

• consult with the President regarding domestic policy

• encourage broader participation in politics among the electorate

• raise campaign funds to support favored candidates

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) did which of the following?

• It created interest groups known as 527s.

• It made it illegal for unions to donate to presidential campaigns.

• It banned soft money donations to national parties.

• It banned candidates from running negative advertisements.

• It banned third-parties from federal funding.

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) was designed to curtail which of the following?

• Individual contributions to candidates

• Soft money

• Hard money

• Public disclosure rules

• Lobbying

Which of the following statements is true regarding political advertisements in 2012 based on the information graphic?

• Taxpayers paid over 2 billion dollars for political advertisements.

• Political action committees aired 3 million political ads.

• Fewer than 2 million advertisements were aired in 2012.

• Few advertisements appealed to positive emotions.