Campaign Finance:  New Rules

I. The Long History of Campaign Finance Reform

    A. The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and Subsequent Changes

    B. Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

II.  McCain-Feingold

    A.  Critique

    B.  FEC Ruling

    C. McConnell v. FEC (2003)

III. The Costs of Democracy and Who Pays for It

    A. The Costs (presidential; congressional; summary)

    B. Sources of Campaign Funds

        1. Individual Contributions

        2.    Political Action Committees (growth, chart)

        3.    Types (FEC Lists PAC Activity)

• Corporate
• Labor
• Trade Associations
• Independent

4.   Top PACS

5.   527 Organizations

         6. Political Parties

         7. Soft Money (banned in 2002)

         8. Public Financing (critique)

Key Web Sites

Federal Campaign Finance Laws

A Primer on Campaign Finance 

Campaign Finance Institute

Campaign Finance:  Hoover Institution

Federal Election Commission

Presidential Campaign Finance:  George Washington University