-
Spoils System: Andrew Jackson offers government jobs as reward for donations
-
Period: to
Corporation/Individual donations begin increase
-
Naval Appropriations Bill prohibits officers/government employees from forcing donations
-
A Republican supporter contributes 25% of campaign finances for candidate, while wealthy Democrats donate up to $10,000
-
Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act extends protections from Naval Appropriations Bill onto all civil service employees
-
Tillman Act prohibits corporations and banks from contributing to federal campaigns
-
Period: to
Laws passed in this time period try to solve issues, but all lack provisions necessary to enforce the laws
-
Federal Corrupt Practices Act strengthens legislation and makes stricter disclosure rules
-
The Hatch Act gives Congress the right to regulate primary elections and set expenditure limits
-
Taft Hartley Act attempts to reduce influence of labor unions and corporations by blocking expenditures and contributions
-
FECA (Federal Elections Campaign Act) strengthens disclosure provisions, sets contribution limits, institutes public financing, establishes framework for segregated funds and PACs, but ultimately lacks enforcement
-
Buckley v. Valeo decision in the SCOTUS ends with ruling to uphold contribution limits but overturn limits on organizations that can contribute
This leads to a "money equals speech" argument and loopholes are found in the system. -
Period: to
Corporations, unions, and rich people are able to give unlimited funds to committees as long as they are for "party building" activities as part of new loophole
-
Period: to
The contributions of soft money (donations which are not regulated by law) explode in use
-
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act bans national political party committees from gathering or spending soft money contributions.
-
In case of Election Commission, SCOTUS rules that the BRCA does not infringe on first amendment rights
-
In Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life Inc., the SCOTUS rules that state ads cannot be banned anytime before an election as long as they do not urge support/defeat of a candidate
-
In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, SCOTUS decides that government cannot restrict political spending by corporations and unions.
Reasoning: free speech is essential and allowed even if coming from a corporation.