GOVT 2301
The videotape “Campaign Spending: Money and Media” was produced in the mid-1980s; the
issues discussed in the program, however, are still relevant today since the laws governing
campaign financing have not changed very much. You should be able to answer the following
questions after watching the videotape. Yes, of course, the information in the program is subject
to testing on the final exam.

What is a PAC (political action committee)? What role do PACs play in the political
process?

What is an “independent” PAC?

Why did Congress pass the Congressional Campaign Finance Act (CCFA) in 1974?

What limitations did the CCFA place on financial contributions to congressional
campaigns ….by individuals? ….by PACs?

What “loopholes” exist that allow individuals and PACs to circumvent these limitations?
What are “independent expenditures”?

In Buckley v Valeo (1976), what part of the CCFA did the United States Supreme Court
rule unconstitutional? Which provision of the Constitution did the Court believe the law
violated? Explain the Court’s reasoning.

How might the Court’s decision in Buckley v Valeo give an advantage to independently
wealthy candidates who are willing to spend (legally) unlimited amounts of their own
money in pursuit of their candidacies?

How do PACs contribute to the decline of the political parties?

Why do you think the panel participants laughed when Henry Hyde welcomed John
Anderson back into the two-party system?

What is “public financing?” The advocates of public financing view this reform as a
constitutional way to fix what they view as an ethical problem with current campaign
finance practices: why? How likely is “public financing” for congressional elections to
be enacted by Congress? Why?

BEYOND THE VIDEOTAPE: In the years since this videotape was produced, the
increasing and extensive use of “soft money” to fund elections has been widely criticized
as a “corrupting” influence in the election process. “Soft money” refers to contributions
by individuals and PACs to the political parties. Under federal law, this money is
supposed to be used to fund “party-building” activities (i.e., voter registration, “get-outthe-vote” efforts, etc.). The parties, however, find ways to legally spend this money to
help the campaigns of their nominees (candidates). In light of the discussion in the
videotape, how can “soft money” contributions be defended? Explain.