Unit 2

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act / McCain-Feingold Act 

banned “soft money” in federal elections and regulate electioneering communications, leading to a significant increase in independent spending by outside groups

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations, unions, etc., allowing corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on political advocacy as long as the spending is not directly coordinated with a candidate or political party

soft money

unlimited contributions to national party committees

hard money

limited contributions from individuals, PACS, and party committees

Federalist 10

large, representative republic is the best way to control the dangers of factions

PAC

Political Action Committee organized to raise/spend money to elect and defeat certain candidates

superPAC

“independent expenditure-only” political committee that can raise and spend unlimited sums of money to advocate for or against candidates