POS-4424 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Hobby Lobby, Campaign Finance In The United States, Russ Feingold
Buckley v. Valeo (1976) Campaign Finance Law
Upheld contribution limits (in government’s interest in safeguarding the integrity of
elections)
Overturned expenditure limits (restricts freedom of speech) placed on candidates
(Unconstitutional to limit expenditures but not for contribution limits)
1979 Amendments to FECA
Encouraged party activity at the state and local levels
“Soft Money” (can’t go to the candidate but can mention the opponent)
Why? (1970s there was a study interviews with state party what kind of resources they
had. None of them had permanent office buildings) (1971 and 1974 put spending limits at
the national level) (You can give as much as you want to the state level and local level)
Loophole
“Party building” cannot be used to support the party’s candidate. Hire staff and build an
office. Every 10 years have office buildings and staff (go against the other candidate)
Causes Negativity campaigning
Hard money is reported to FECA and guided with limits. Influx of money to the state and local
“McCain-Feingold” put a limit on state, district, and local spending.
Hard and Soft Money
Hard money: contributions to federal campaigns that are limited under federal law and reported
to the FEC
Limits:
To each
candidate or
candidate
committee per
election
(Primary,
national)
To national
party committee
per calendar
year
To state district
and local party
committee per
calendar year
(McCain-
Feingold made
this a limit)
To any other
political
committee per
calendar year
Special limits
Individual may
give
$2,700 $33,400 $10,000
(combined
limit)
$5,000 $115,000
overall biennial
limit. $42,700 to
all candidates
$65,500 to all
PACs and
parties
PAC may give $5,000 $15,000 $5,000
(Combined
limit)
$5,000 No limit
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Upheld contribution limits (in government"s interest in safeguarding the integrity of elections) Overturned expenditure limits (restricts freedom of speech) placed on candidates (unconstitutional to limit expenditures but not for contribution limits) Encouraged party activity at the state and local levels. Soft money (can"t go to the candidate but can mention the opponent) Why? (1970s there was a study interviews with state party what kind of resources they had. None of them had permanent office buildings) (1971 and 1974 put spending limits at the national level) (you can give as much as you want to the state level and local level) Party building cannot be used to support the party"s candidate. Every 10 years have office buildings and staff (go against the other candidate) Hard money is reported to feca and guided with limits. Influx of money to the state and local. Mccain-feingold put a limit on state, district, and local spending.
