quiz 3 Flashcards
(25 cards)
problems associated with the electoral college (6)
- possibility of a popular vote loser winning the presidency
- disproportionate influence of smaller states
- swing state focus and neglect of other states
- potential for faithless electors
- discourages voter turnout in some states
- exaggerated margins of victory
possible reforms for the electoral college (4)
- National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC)
- proportional allocation of electoral votes
- direct popular vote (abolish the electoral college)
- ranked-choice voting for electoral votes
state legislatures’ motives in redistricting/gerrymandering (7)
- partisan advantage (partisan gerrymandering)
- incumbent protection (bipartisan gerrymandering)
- racial gerrymandering
- favoring urban or rural areas
- influence over policy and legislation
- weakening political opponents
- delaying political shifts
legal authority of redistricting
US Constitution, Article 1, Section 4 (Elections Clause) grants state legislatures the power to draw/redraw district lines
However, Congress has the authority to alter or override state redistricting laws
Shelby County v. Holder (2013) (2)
- struck down section 4(b) of the VRA, making preclearance unenforceable unless Congress updates the formula
- argued that racial discrimination in voting had decreased since the 1960s, making the preclearance requirement unnecessary and unconstitutional under the principle of “equal sovereignty” among states
possible solutions for improving voter turnout (4)
- make voting more accessible (expanding early voting & vote-by-mail, AVR, same-day/online voter registration)
- reduce barriers to voting (eliminating strict voter ID laws, restoring voting rights for former felons)
- increase voter education & motivation (better civics education, combat misinformation, increase trust in elections)
- use technology & innovation (text & email reminders, allow secure online voting)
factors motivating voters (6)
- personal beliefs & values
- political efficacy (belief that their vote matters)
- social & peer influence
- candidate appeal & leadership
- major issues & events
- convenience & accessibility
reasons voters don’t go to the polls (3)
- structural barriers (restrictive voting laws, limited polling places, inconvenient election day scheduling)
- psychological & social barriers (lack of political efficacy, disillusionment with candidates/politics, low political awareness/interest
- situational factors (too busy, missed registration deadlines, unreliable election information/misinformation)
attempts to regulate money over the years (5)
- Tillman Act 1907
- Corrupt Practices Act 1912)
- Federal Elections Campaign Act 1971 (amendments in 1973 & 1974)
- Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
- Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (McCain - Feingold) 2002
Supreme Court cases governing campaign finance reforms (5)
- Buckley v. Valeo (1976): money = speech
- McConnell v. FEC (2003): upheld the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
- Citizens United v. FEC (2010): corporations & unions have free speech rights
- SpeechNow.org v. FEC (2010): super PACs can raise unlimited money
- McCutcheon v. FEC (2014): struck down aggregate limits on individual donations
tax-code groups in the constellation of campaign finance (3)
- 501 (c) 3 groups (PACs)
- 501 (c) groups (527 political committees)
- 501 (c) 4 groups (super PACs)
501 (c) 3 groups (PACs) (3)
- an affiliated PAC (meaning affiliated/attached to an organization not authorized to raise and spend campaign donations
- usually raises money from private sources and/or affiliated with corporations, labor unions, and ideological groups
- can contribute directly to a candidate’s campaign
501 (c) groups (527 Political Committees) (2)
- filed with IRS as a tax-exempt “social welfare organization”
- not primarily political under the code, but in practice operate as a political fundraising/expenditure group for specific ideological purposes
501 (c) 4 groups (Super PACs) (2)
- one of these tax-exempt groups organized for “social welfare” and may operate to promote such causes - but usually are political in nature
- independent expenditure-only groups: can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. It can support any political activity outside of a candidate’s campaign. They cannot engage with a candidate directly, but can spend money on behalf of a candidate or cause
Federal Election Commission (FEC) (3)
an independent regulatory agency of the US government responsible for administering and enforcing federal campaign finance laws
primary duties include:
1. disclosing campaign finance information
2. enforcing federal campaign finance laws
structure of the FEC
6 commissioners (3 Ds & 3 Rs) who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate
Political Action Committees (PACs) (purpose, contribution limits, funding sources, and regulation)
purpose: raise and donate money to candidates for federal office
contribution limits: can donate directly to candidates but have strict limits on how much they can give per election cycle
funding sources: can receive donations from individuals but have restrictions on corporate and union contributions
regulation: governed by the FEC
527 Political Committees (purpose, contribution limits, funding sources, and regulation)
purpose: influence elections through issue advocacy and voter mobilization efforts, but cannot directly coordinate with or donate to candidates
contribution limits: no limits on donations, but contributions must be reported to the IRS
funding sources: can receive unlimited donations from individuals, corporations, and unions
regulation: overseen by the IRS under section 527 of the tax code, rather than the FEC
Super PACs (purpose, contribution limits, funding sources, and regulation)
purpose: support candidates through independent expenditures (ex: advertising), but cannot donate directly to or coordinate with candidates
contribution limits: no limits on how much they can raise or spend
funding sources: can accept unlimited donations from individuals, corporations, and unions
regulation: governed by the FEC
soft money
unlimited/unregulated donations made to political parties or organizations for purposes other than directly supporting a candidate
hard money
donations made directly to a candidate’s campaign that are subject to strict limits and regulations set by the Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA - 1771) (3)
- regulate the raising and spending of money in federal elections, ensuring transparency and fairness
- extensively amended in 1974 –> created public funding for presidential campaigns
- public reporting & strict contribution limits and expenditures in federal elections
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA - 2002) (5)
designed to regulate the financing of political campaigns and address concerns about the growing influence of money in politics
1. eliminated soft money contributions
2. banned electoral electioneering
3. media advantaged by these limitations
4. incumbents advantaged by limitations
5. national parties downsized
dark money
refers to political spending intended to influence electoral outcomes, where the sources of funding are not publicly disclosed
