Political Contributions

www.opensecrets.org

Where do members of Congress get their election money? http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/

wherefrom.php?cycle=2012 http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/index

.php Are there any conclusions we can draw

from looking at these charts?

Political Action Committees (PAC) Corporations, Unions, and Trade Associations

donate money to parties and their campaign funds. Minimum Requirements

– At least 50 contributors (for employees and members only)

– Donate to at least 5 different candidates– No more than $5,000 per year to a candidate– No more than $15,000 to the national party.

PAC (continued)

Over 4,000 PACs. Interest groups may also form PACS.

Half of the PACs represent corporations 1,000 are issue oriented.

Soft Money

Contributions to political parties, instead of particular candidates. The money is used for party building activities like:

– Get out the vote campaign.– Voter registration drives.– Expenses involved in day to day running of party headquarters.– Campaign propaganda that relates to the party rather than the

candidates. – Fund raising events.

Soft Money Contributions

Banning of Soft Money

Article link: (http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,218989,00.html).

What were some problems in banning soft money?

Super PACs http://www.csmonitor.

com/USA/Justice/2010/0202/Supreme-Court-s-campaign-finance-ruling-just-the-facts

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/superpacs.php

What are the pro’s and con’s of the Supreme Court decision?

2012 Incumbent Advantage

http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/incumbs.php

How you donate legally?

Try this link: (http://

elections.nytimes.com/2012/guide-to-political-donations).

Historical Congressional Reelection http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/

reelect.php?cycle=2010