2008Nationwide Survey

Members of Boards of Directors

Attitudes & Awareness:Campaign Finance Laws,

Corporate Oversight of Political Spending and Activity&

Proposed Reform

Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research

CENTERFOR POLITICALACCOUNTABILITY

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 2

Research Objectives

To document, measure and better understand;

• Level of political activity of board members

• The perceived importance and impact of corporate political activity

• Level of familiarity and knowledge of campaign finance laws as they

relate to corporations.

• Internal reporting & processes related to corporate political activity

• Perceived level of risk associated with corporate political activity

• Degree of support for specific reform proposals regarding disclosure and

board oversight of corporate political activity

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 3

Methodology

• A total of 255 members of boards of directors of Russell 2000 companies were interviewed by telephone.

• Interviews were conducted between February 4 – 15, 2008.

• Margin of error is 6%.

• 57% were internal/management board members, 43% independent/outside.

• Employed several batteries of ‘Likert Scale’ questions to measure both attitude and intensity.

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 4

Findings

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 5

Level of Political Activity

of

Boards of Directors

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 6

Political Activity by Boards of Directors

AdvocacyFundraisingChanges in level of involvement

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 7

Pressure to Contribute?

(not so much)

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 8

Importance & Impact of Corporate Political Advocacy & Fundraising

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 9

The Imperative of Corporate Political Activity (?)

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 10

Impact of Political Advocacy & Spending by Companies

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 11

Familiarity & Tested Knowledge of

Campaign Finance Law Relating to Corporations

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 12

Familiarity with Campaign Finance Laws & Own Company Political Activities

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 13

Knowledge of Current Campaign Finance Laws Relating to Corporations & Trade Associations

CORP. REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ALL POLITICAL SPENDING

PERCENTAGE NOT KNOWING CURRENT LAWS

TRADE ASSOC. REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE MEMBERSHIP AND CANDIDATES & ORG. THAT BENEFIT FROM POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

501c4s REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE MEMBERSHIP AND CANDIDATES & ORG. THAT BENEFIT FROM POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

BOARDS REQUIRED TO APPROVE & OVERSEE POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 14

Current Internal Reporting & Processes Relatedto Corporate Political Activity

Confidence with their own company’s policies and oversightCode of conduct or other policies to govern political activityCompany provides directors with reports on political spending

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 15

Attitudes about Corporate Political Activity & Risk

Legal risk & risk to reputationImpact of recent corporate scandalsNecessity of reform

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 16

Support for Specific Reform Proposals

Disclosure of Contributions

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 17

Support for Specific Reform Proposals

Oversight & Process

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research 18

The Burden & Cost of Reform

(again, not so much)

2008Nationwide Survey

Members of Boards of Directors

Attitudes & Awareness:Campaign Finance Laws,

Corporate Oversight of Political Spending and Activity&

Proposed Reform

Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research

CENTERFOR POLITICALACCOUNTABILITY

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.