AP US GovtAP US GovtPACsPACs

January 16, 2013January 16, 2013

Objective: Examine the growth, influence, strategies and pros/cons of

political action committees

I. Growth of PACs

• Definition: groups that raise funds for favored candidates

• WHY: “Open up” contributionsmasses more people to support your cause

• FECA 1974: 1. Individuals-$1000 (now $2500/inflation)2. Individuals-$1000 to a PAC, no limit on #PACs3. PACs-5x an individual (now 2.5), no limit on amount that a PAC can

contribute/year4. No limit on independent expenditures that a PAC could make

II. Explosive Growth of PAC contributions

• PACs-even donate to candidates facing no opposition

• Most congressional campaign money comes from Individual contributions

III. PAC StrategiesWHERE does the money go AND WHY

1.Incumbents –2004, 79% of PAC moneyincumbents

2.Winners-double spending

3.Those likely to grant access 1.party leader, committee chair (60 mins video)

III. PAC strategies…

3. Voter education (mailings, fliers, commercials)

4. Independ. expenditures, issue advocacy ads

5. “Bundling”-many individual contributions

6. 527s Groups– Not regulated by FEC

IV. Who has PACs??

1. 50%=Corporations

2. Ideological organizations

3. Professional/trade/health (AMA)

4. Labor Unions (WEA)

V. Dangers of PACs

1. Ethic concerns: “buying votes”

2. Special accessaverage person lacks

3. Drives up cost of campaigningfundraising

4. Further incumbency advantage

VI. In defense of PACs

1. 1st amendment’s rightright to petition the government

2. PACs=political education