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Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
A United States federal law which increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns. -
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 amended
To place legal limits on the campaign contributions. The amendment also created the Federal Election Commission (FEC). -
PACs
Political Action Committee - an organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, especially at the federal level. -
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 amended again
In response to the provisions ruled unconstitutional by Buckley v. Valeo -
Period: to
Presidential Campaign Funds
Presidential campaigns were leargely funded by the public purse. -
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 amended a third time.
To allow parties to spend unlimited amounts of hard money on activities like increasing voter turnout and registration. -
Soft Money VS. Hard Money
In 1979, the Commission ruled that political parties could spend unregulated or "soft" money for non-federal administrative and party building activities. Later, this money was used for candidate-related issue ads, which led to a substantial increase in soft money contributions and expenditures in elections. This in turn created political pressures leading to passage of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act ("BCRA"), banning soft money expenditure by parties. Some limits put on Hard Money. -
Costs to run for...
House Incumbent $1.7 million, House Challenger $700,000, Senate Incumbent $13 million, Senate Challenger $5 million, President $4.5 million. -
Arisen fears due to high cost campaigns
If it is so expensive, only rich people can run, this means only rich people will run the government and will choose things in favor of the rich people which doesn’t allow less wealthy people to have their voice heard.