AP GOV. Chapter 9.3

Citizens United v. the FEC

a 2010 landmark supreme court case that ruled that individuals, corporations & unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent expenditures

Federal Election Campaign act (feca)

a law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. this created federal election commission and provided for limits on and disclosures of campaign contributions

Federal Election Commission

a six member bipartisan agency created by the federal campaign act of 1974 the federal election commission administers and enforces campaign finance laws

Campaign Contributions

contributions that are made directly to a candidate or a party and must be reported to the fec

Soft Money

ear marked for political building expenses at the grass roots level or for generic party advertising. banned by McCain Feingold Act

Independent Expenditures

expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidates campaign

501(c) Groups

groups that are exempted from reporting their contributions and can receive unlimited contributions.

Political Action Committees

groups that raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributing to candidates that the groups supports. they must register with the FEC and report their donations and contributions

527 Groups

independent groups that are not subject to contributions restrictions because they do not directly seek the election of particular candidates

Buckley v. Valeo

limited amount of money PACS have to report to the FEC

Super PACs

Known as this because they can accept donations of any size and can endorse candidates but must be periodically reported to the FEC