money and politics

Muckrakers

Journalists in the early 1900s who exposed corruption in politics and business, pushing for reforms.

Teapot Dome Scandal

A 1920s bribery scandal where government officials secretly leased oil reserves to private companies in exchange for money and gifts.

Federal Corrupt Practices Act

Early attempts to regulate campaign finance by setting spending limits and requiring financial disclosures (not strongly enforced).

Federal Election Campaign Act of 1972

Strengthened campaign finance rules by requiring candidates to disclose donations and spending.

Campaign Finance Reform Laws of 1974

Created stricter limits on contributions and spending after Watergate, leading to the creation of the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Loopholes of 1974 Act

Allowed unlimited independent spending and didn’t control "soft money" donations to political parties.

PACs

Political Action Committees that raise money to support candidates who align with their interests, giving them major influence over elections.

Independent Spending

Money spent by individuals or groups to support a candidate without coordinating with their campaign.

Soft Money

Unlimited contributions to political parties for "party-building" activities (later restricted by McCain-Feingold).

Hard Money

Limited, regulated contributions directly given to candidates for campaigns.

Conflict of Interest

When politicians make decisions that benefit them or their donors instead of the public.

Junkets

Free or heavily funded trips politicians take, often paid for by lobbyists or interest groups.

Influence Peddling

Using political connections to gain favors, often in exchange for money or gifts.

Private Campaign Financing

Candidates rely on donations from individuals, businesses, and PACs.

Public Campaign Financing

Government funding helps limit private influence, but few candidates use it.

Issue Advocacy

Ads or campaigns promoting issues rather than specific candidates, often used to bypass finance laws.

527’s

Tax-exempt groups that raise unlimited money for political causes but can’t coordinate directly with candidates.

McCain-Feingold Act

A 2002 law that banned soft money donations and placed limits on issue ads close to elections.

Citizens United v FEC

Supreme Court decision that allowed unlimited corporate and union spending in elections, arguing money = free speech.

Buckley v Valeo

Ruled that while contribution limits were legal, candidates could spend unlimited amounts of their own money.

501(c)

Nonprofits that can raise unlimited money for political causes but don’t have to disclose donors.

Matching Funds

Public money given to candidates who meet fundraising criteria, but most major candidates opt out.

Proposed Reforms to Campaign Finance

Stricter limits on corporate and PAC spending, more transparency in donations, and public financing to reduce special interest influence.

Lobbying

Trying to influence government decisions by talking to politicians and officials.

Lobbyist

A person whose job is to convince lawmakers to support certain laws or policies.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Groups that collect money to help politicians who support their ideas win elections.

Private Interest Groups

Groups that push for laws or policies that benefit a specific business, profession, or industry.

Public Interest Groups

Groups that push for laws or policies that benefit the general public, not just one industry or group.

Single-Issue Groups

Groups that focus on one leading cause, like gun rights or environmental protection.

Coalitions

When different groups team up to push for a common goal.

Market Share

The percentage of an industry or market controlled by a company or group.

AFL-CIO

A big group of labor unions that fight for workers’ rights.

UAW (United Auto Workers)

A union that represents auto industry workers.

MEA (Michigan Education Association)

A union that represents teachers and school employees in Michigan.

NRA (National Rifle Association)

A group that supports gun rights.

AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)

A group that helps older adults with things like healthcare and retirement.

Christian Coalition

A group that supports conservative Christian values in politics.

Collective Good

Things that benefit everyone, like clean air or public safety.

Disturbance Theory

The idea that interest groups form when people feel threatened by a change in society or government.

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007

A law that tried to stop corruption by making lobbying more transparent.

Social Capital

The connections and relationships people have that help them get things done in a community.

“Right to Work” State

A state where workers can choose not to join a union, even if their workplace has one.

Collective Bargaining

When workers, usually through a union, negotiate with employers for better pay and working conditions.

Different Lobbying Techniques

Direct lobbying, grassroots lobbying, using the media, and donating to campaigns.

Reasons for Labor Interest Groups Decline

Fewer factory jobs, more anti-union laws, and companies fighting against unions.

“Grassroots” Organizations

Local groups made up of regular people working for change.

Reasons for Waves of Interest Groups in U.S. History

Big historical events create new groups fighting for change.