1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” So you want to run for office? Show me the money! Sources of Campaign $       Personal Friends/family/work colleagues Local opinion leaders/political activists Interest groups/PACS Other candidates (transfers) State party 2004: Top 10 industries/interest groups donations to CA candidates (in millions) Party committees Self financed candidates Lawyers Public Sector Unions Real Estate General Trade Unions Health Professionals Insurance Candidate Committees Tribal governments Source: Money in State Politics Major Players: $24.2 $10.4 $ 7.0 $ 6.7 $ 6.3 $ 5.8 $ 5.3 $ 4.4 $ 3.7 $ 2.3 How expensive are California campaigns? Costs per vote: 1958: $ .09 1984: $ .46 2000: $2.44 In 2004, CA candidates raised an average of $8.78 per voter (Institute on Money in State Politics) Why are California elections so expensive? Size of electorate/districts  Technological advances  Specialization of consulting business  High stakes of politics  How does money affect campaigns? Momentum  Name Recognition  Result  How does money affect policy-making? Quid Pro Quo Corruption -- Felony  Legal Bribery?  Insidious Corruption  Components of Campaign Finance Reform     Disclosure Contribution Limits Spending Limits Public Finance Paths of Money Money  Soft Money  Independent Expenditures  Hard Buckley v. Valeo (1976) Campaign Spending is Free Speech  Reasonable Contribution Limits  Only Voluntary Spending Limits  “Appearance of Corruption”  California’s Campaign Finance Reform History      Proposition 9 (1974) – Disclosure, lobbyist reform, establishes FPPC Proposition 208 (1996) – Strict contribution/ spending limits Proposition 34 (2000) – Modest contribution, spending limits AB 538 (2006) CA Clean Money and Fair Elections Act Initiatives – Virtually no limits Are politics today more ethical? Does campaign finance reform matter?