Review Interest Groups and Campaign Finance

Which is true about PACs?

• They can spend unlimited money on campaigns
• They do not have to disclose donors
• They are limited in the amount they can contribute
• They are regulated by the IRS not FEC

America is becoming less democratic. Only the rich can afford to run for government. _ What explains this opinion?

• Number of elections

• Expensive registration fees

• High campaign costs

• Influence of lobbyists

Political Action Committees (PACs) have become more influential in recent campaigns because they ________..

• limit the number of candidates seeking elected office

• help pay the high costs of campaigns

• provide candidates for public office

• limit opportunities for people to run for office

Buckley v. Valeo struck down what part of the FECA?

• limits on campaign contibutions
• limits on how much candidate can spend of own money
• required disclosure of donors
• creation of the FEC

What are independent expenditures?

• Money donated directly to candidates
• Personal money spent by a candidate
• Money from anonymous donors
• Money spent but not coordinating with candidate

Seeking to influence/persuade legislators to introduce or vote for/against a bill is called _____________.

• protesting

• forum

• lobbying

• due process

Which is NOT a function of PACs or special interest groups

• nominate their favorite candidate for office

• pay for television, radio, and internet ads supporting their preferred candidate

• make large contributions supporting their favorite candidate

• mail pamphlets supporting their preferred candidate.

Looking at this political cartoon, what message is the author's opinion about the impact of Political Action Committees on elections?

• PACS focus and drive a specific issue

• PACS impact elections by raising and donating large amounts of money to candidates they support. Whichever candidate has the most support from PACS has the advantage in an election.

• PACS help voters focus on specific issues

• PACS are groups of people who have similar ideas about how government should run and give people the opportunity to participate in elections

Campaign finance reform has led to legislation that ______

• Limits the number of candidates

• Allows unlimited funding

• Promotes free advertising

• Limits individual contributions

The main purpose of a Political Action Committee (PAC) is to —

• raise money for candidates who support the same views

• publicize a presidential candidate's ideas through the use of the media

• develop the party platform for the candidate's party

• see that money is distributed equally among presidential candidates