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 starter activity

 starter activity. . In on 8 August 1974 Richard Nixon resigned as US president. What did money have to do with his choice to resign?. Does money talk in US presidential elections?.  LOs. To identify 5 reasons why campaign finance is crucial in winning in US elections

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 starter activity

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  1. starter activity  In on 8 August 1974 Richard Nixon resigned as US president. What did money have to do with his choice to resign?

  2. Does money talk in US presidential elections?  LOs To identify 5 reasons why campaign finance is crucial in winning in US elections To identify 5 sources of campaign finance To assess the impact of recent reforms to campaign financing

  3.  Your task Why is funding so important in US elections? Why was Obama so successful in gaining campaign finance?

  4. Reasons why funding is so important • High cost of TV advertising • Size of country – 50 states • Diversity of voters – need for targeted campaigns • Specialist staff to run modern campaigns • ‘Permanent campaigning’

  5.  Your task • Read p.70-72. Note down at least 5 major changes to campaign finance as a result of the Federal Election Campaign Act, 1974 (FECA) & Campaign Reform Act, 2002

  6. Reforms on campaign finance • Federal funding for presidential (but not congressional) elections - ‘matching funds’ • Limits to individual & corporate donations • Federal Election Commission regulated new system • Ban on ‘soft money’, e.g. issue advocacy or voter registration drives • ‘Stand by Your Ad’ provision

  7. 527 groups  Kerry v Bush campaign (2004), ‘Swift Boat Veterans for Truth Group’

  8.  Your task • Identify the positive & negative impact of recent reform in campaign finance. Use colour to differentiate your findings. • Extension. On balance would you say that money still talks in US elections?

  9. Impact • Federal funding goes to candidates not parties – weakens party structure • Favours major parties – minor parties fail to achieve 5% of vote to receive federal funding • Tighter regulation by FECA led to growth of political action committees • Supreme Court ruled parts of FECA unconstitutional (Buckley v Valeo, 1976) • New methods of fundraising, e.g. internet • Growth of 527 groups

  10.  Plenary • Explain the terms: matching funds, soft money, 527 groups • Give 5 reasons why campaign finance is important in the USA • List 5 sources of campaign finance • How effective have recent changes to campaign finance been? • Is the situation better in the UK • Use your notes or visit the electoral Commission Website to find out current laws on political finance in the UK

  11.  Homework • Read Bennett p.71-2 and note the ways in which the 2008 presidential campaign changed the way in which future elections will be financed. • Use your notes or visit the electoral Commission Website to find out current laws on political finance in the UK • Extension. Use the weblinks on Studyhistory to explore the troubled history of party funding in the UK and note down examples of controversies and current plans for reform.

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