Campaign Finance & Interest Groups (2 Separate Topics!)

The various channels that connect citizens with government, such as elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media, are known as:

• political action committees

• super PACs

• linkage institutions

• social movements

True/False: The high cost of campaigning raises questions about whether money plays too big a role in politics.

• True

• False

Which of the following does money buy for election campaigns?

• Media time (TV and radio, print, social media)

• Professional consultants to advise a campaign on messaging and strategy

• Conduct public opinion polls to guide strategy

• All of the above

A group that raises money to elect and defeat candidates (and may donate limited funds directly to a candidate's campaign) is a...

• Interest Group

• Lobbyist Group

• Super PAC

• PAC

PACs can give political contributions directly to a candidate that is limited in amount and fully disclosed. This is called...

• Hard Money

• Soft Money

PACs can spend money in support of a candidate without directly donating to their campaign, such as paying for ads or campaign events, or giving to the candidate's party. These campaign contributions are unregulated by federal or state law and are called...

• Soft Money

• Hard Money

What was the purpose of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (aka McCain-Feingold Act) regulating advertisements on television and radio?

• to limit the number of advertisements running on television during elections

• to close the soft money loophole left in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971

• to prevent other organizations from making ads in support of candidates

• to keep a level playing field during elections for both sides

Part of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act which requires candidates to declare their approval of ads that are produced by their campaigns.

• "Stand by your Ad" Provision

• McCain-Feingold Act

• National Voter Registration Act of 1993

• Media Consolidation

In the Citizens United case, the Supreme Court ruled that prohibitions on corporate and union independent campaign expenditures ("soft money") were unconstitutional and were protected under the:

• First Amendment

• Third Amendment

• Sixth Amendment

• Twelfth Amendment

True or False: Created after the Citizens United decision, there are no funding limits on Super PACs as they operate independently from candidates.

• True

• False