5.9 Citizens United and the Rise of Super PACs

Announcements:

Update on HB 1508 2518: The bill has been referred to the Higher Education Committee. We will need to specifically target schools in the committee members' districts. Check the spreadsheet to see if your school is one of them and highlight your row if it is.

Legislator look-up-verify that your school is in the representative's district. Will need school address/city.

Grassroots Lobbying: Let's send some emails and the get the word out about HB 1508 and HB 2518!
Here is the main version that most of you will use. Make sure to fill in the highlighted parts with your specific information.

Here is the targeted version for those that have a school in a district represented by one of the Higher Education committee members.

Homework: Bring in a stamped envelope and a printed copy of your letter to class on Wednesday. We will mail out hard copies then as a follow-up to the emails.

QUIZ: Thursday over campaigns and elections.

READING: 243-281 in Edwards

Unit Five Identification Terms

Today's Essential Question: How did the Citizens United case affect the role of money in elections and lead to the development of SuperPACs?

Learning Standards:

PRD-2.E.1: Federal legislation and case law pertaining to campaign finance demonstrate the ongoing debate over the role of money in political and free speech, as set forth in:

• Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which was an effort to ban soft money and reduce attack ads with “Stand by Your Ad” provision: “I’m [candidate’s name] and I approve this message”
• Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), which ruled that political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment

PRD-2.E.2: Debates have increased over free speech and competitive and fair elections related to money and campaign funding (including contributions from individuals, PACs, and political parties).

PRD-2.E.3: Different types of political action committees (PACs) influence elections and policy making through fundraising and spending.

Impact of Citizens United

Earlier, you looked at the recent history of government regulation of campaign finance through both legislative acts (FECA, BCRA) and Supreme Court decisions (Buckley v. Valeo, Citizens United, etc). Today we are going to look at some more information and examples of the role of money in elections.

Contribution limits:

The most important campaign finance Supreme Court case in recent years is Citizens United v. FEC. This controversial decision has led to an influx of money in campaigns, primarily by outside groups representing corporate interests or individual wealthy donors. 

Here is President Obama's reaction to the SCOTUS decision:




What impact has Citizens United had on money in campaigns?
What do these charts illustrate? (click on the link)

Main points on Citizens United:
1. Allows unlimited contributions by corporations, labor unions, individuals

2. Names of donors do NOT have to be disclosed

3. Expenditures (i.e. commercials) must be independent of the campaign (although that is easily worked around)

4. Led to the creation of Super PACs










First, take a look at the Bloomberg article on 2016 campaign spending.

With the Court's decision in Citizens United, the rise of SuperPACs has increased. Two of the most important in the 2012 election were Restore our Future and Priorities USA Action.  Look at these two SuperPACs and come up with at least two similarities and two differences.

Priorities USA was still active in 2016. Here is one of their ads:




More videos can be found on their YouTube channel.

How difficult is it to set up a Super PAC?


More videos for review: