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FRQ#1: Interest Groups
What aspects of our
governmental system
create Multiple Access
Points for interest groups
in search of favorable
policy?
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1) Separation of Powers
Favorable
policy
outcomes
Interes
t
Groups
LOBBYING!
• Seek favorable legislation.
Congress
• Ask for oversight hearings
on implementation.
• Ask pres. to sign/veto bills.
President &
Bureaucracy
Federal
Courts
• Lobby federal agencies
for favorable regulations.
• Ask president to issue
executive orders.
• File lawsuits.
• Submit amicus curiae
briefs.
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2) Federalism
Interest
Groups
State
Legislatures
and various local
law-making
boards/councils
State
Governors
and
various
state/local
agencies
State
Court
Systems
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3) Frequency of Elections
2012
2013 Initiative
• State/local
and
Referendum
• Primary (spring)
2014 • Midterms
• General (November)
2015
• Presidential
• Primary (spring)
• General (November)
• State/local
At least 6 elections every 4-year cycle.
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FRQ#2: Campaign Finance Reform
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A. 1970s – Federal Election
Campaign Acts (FECA)
Imposed rules and regulations on
fundraising practices of candidates.
Created the Federal Election
Commission (FEC) to act as a watchdog
and enforce rules.
Required Interest Groups to form
Political Action Committees (PACs) if
they want to donate to campaigns.
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A. 1970s – Federal Election
Campaign Acts (FECA)
Established limits on “hard
money” contributions.
Individual
Candidate
$1000 (primary)
$1000 (general election)
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A. 1970s – Federal Election
Campaign Acts (FECA)
Interest Group
(PAC)
Candidate
$5000 (primary)
$5000 (general election)
Purpose of FECA: Make
candidates get lots of small
contributors instead of just a
few big ones.
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A. 1970s – Federal Election
Campaign Acts (FECA)
Loopholes:
Political
1) Individual
“Soft
Money”
Parties.
(unlimited $$$
if given
for
“party building activities”)
(“Issue Ads”)
2) Rich Individual candidate.
(unlimited spending on own campaign.)
Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
3) Independent
Expenditure Ads.
“Free Speech”
(unlimited spending if not coordinated
with any individual campaigns.)
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B. McCain-Feingold Act
(2002)
Formal Name: Bipartisan
Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
Individual
Candidate
$2000/primary
$2000/general election
(Indexed for inflation.)
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B. McCain-Feingold Act
(2002)
1) Individual
$ 25,000/year
Political
Party
(indexed for inflation)
2) Millionaire’s Amendment.
Higher contribution limits for
opponents of rich, self-funded
candidates.
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B. McCain-Feingold Act
(2002)
3) Blackout periods on
Independent Ads:
-- 30 days before primary.
-- 60 days before general
election.
(Only “hard money” ads allowed –
“Stand by your ad” provision.)
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C. Court challenges to BCRA
McConnell v. FEC (2003).
5-4 decision upholding BCRA.
(w/ Sandra Day O’Connor
as swing vote.)
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C. Court challenges to BCRA
Roberts/Alito Court:
FEC v. WRTL (2007).
Davis v. FEC (2008).
Citizen’s United v. FEC (2010).
RNC v. FEC (2014) (pending).
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