gov chapter 12

What is the limit on how much you can give as an individual to the political party?

unlimited

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. It consists of six commissioners appointed by president and confirmed by the Senate. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of campaign finance information and public funding of presidential elections, and enforcing contribution limits.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

Federal Election Campaign Act

A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.

Initiative

A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

Citizens United v. FEC

In 2010 US Supreme Court case that enabled corporations and unions have the same political speech rights as individuals under the First Amendment. As part of this ruling, the Supreme Court found that the government may not prohibit corporations or unions from using their General treasury funds to support or denounce political candidates in elections.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

Largely banned party soft money or nonfederal money, restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes, and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy.

McCutcheon v. FEC

The 2014 Supreme Court ruling that declared section 441 of the federal election campaign Act (FECA) unconstitutional. Section 441 impose limits on any individuals total political contributions ( she better Oh Canada, parties, or political action committees) in a two-year period.

Buckley v. Valeo

The Supreme Court ruled that no limit could be placed on the amount of money candidates can spend from their own families resources, since such spending is considered a First Amendment right of free speech.

result of the two rulings

The cumulative result of these decisions and the Supreme Court's willingness to equate money with speech has been to effectively gut campaign Finance law in the United States. To date, efforts to advance further campaign Finance reforms have met with little success in Congress.

How much can you as an individual donate to candidate during the primary and general election?

The maximum allowable contribution under federal law for Congressional and presidential elections was 2700 per election to each candidate in 2015 to 2016, with primary and general elections considered separately.

Referendum

a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate

Super PACs

political action committees established to make independent expenditures

Recall

procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office