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Money and Elections Libertyville HS

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Money and Elections

Libertyville HS

The Election Process• Primary election– Intraparty election– R v. R, D v. D– Incumbents have huge

advantage• Organization• State resources• Leadership backing

General Election

• General (interparty) election– D v. R– Reconciliation with

defeated primary opponent critical

Money in Politics

What does money buy, in politics? (Brainstorm)

• Advertising• Information about voters• Name recognition (yard signs,

bumper stickers, etc)• Office space, & equipment• Political consultants

Who Gives $ to Politicians?

• Individual contributions, including the candidate!

• Interest groups– Any group of people that

seek to influence public policy making• Business• Unions• School employees• Hospitals• Ideological groups

– To give money directly to a candidate, groups form a Political Action Committee (PAC)

Why do People Give $ to Politicians?

• Government influence in our lives

• Money is part of our “speech”

• Regulated groups seek to influence policymaking

• Individual belief / conviction

How Do Politicians Get $?

• Politicians support & oppose issues, daily

• By doing so, they make friends and enemies

• Interest groups give $ to their friends

• Interest groups try to defeat their enemies

Why regulate $ in Politics?

• Brainstorm reasons• Real or perceived

corruption– “Buying” candidates– Are you buying

support or supporting a friend?

• Important to know where $ comes from or is going

• Money is speech

How Should $ be Regulated?

1. Restrict number of donations to a candidate?2. Restrict amount of donations, by contributor?3. Restrict when donations can be given, before an

election?4. Restrict how money is spent, by a candidate?5. Disclose who is giving donations to which

candidate?6. Disclose what candidate is getting donations,

from which group or individual?

How would you order these, in importance?The FEC regulates by #2, 4, 5, 6 (3 recently ruled

unconstitutional; why not #1???)

Federal Regulation of $• Federal Election Commission

(FEC): The “election police”• Think of the money spent in an

election as money in or out of a jar….– “In the jar” is money the

candidate can spend, anyway she wants

– Sources of “in jar” money include individuals, PACs, and the candidate

– “Out of the jar” money is spent by ‘independent’ groups to inform about issues or “get out the vote”

“In the Jar” vs. “Out of the Jar”

In the Jar Out of the Jar

Money given to candidate or political party, to be used for any purpose

Money given to “independent” groups

Regulated by FEC Purposes: “party building”, GOTV drives, issue advocacy (as of 2010 USSC decision)

Regulated by amount & disclosure of who gets & who gives

Unlimited amounts can be spent, but CANNOT be used for candidate advocacy

Regulated by use of money

In Jar vs. Out of the Jar

• Examples of In Jar ads

• Examples of Out of the Jar ads