Unit 8: Campaigns, News Media, and Outside
Interests – Discussion
According to federal finance laws, individual contributions to federal candidates are
capped at predetermined amounts.
An example: you can contribute $2,700 to a Congressional candidate for each primary,
runoff, and general election. ( www.fec.gov) In contrast, an individual (you) can
contribute unlimited amounts of funds towards a Political Action Committee (PAC).
According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), “The term "political action
committee" (PAC) refers to two distinct types of political committees registered with the
FEC: separate segregated funds (SSFs) and non-connected committees. Basically,
SSFs are political committees established and administered by corporations, labor
unions, membership organizations or trade associations. These committees can only
solicit contributions from individuals associated with connected or sponsoring
organization. By contrast, non-connected committees, as their name suggests, are not
sponsored by or connected to any of the aforementioned entities and are free to solicit
contributions from the general public.” (FEC, 2015)
Topics
Topic 1:Campaign Financing
Topic 1:Campaign Financing
Directions: Using at least one specific example, address the influence of political
action committees on campaigns and elections.
Provide a brief summary of the political action committee.
Analyze the purpose of this political action committee.
Analyze the finances of this political action committee.
Overall, do political action committees help or hinder our
democracy?
Reference
Defend your answer with specific rationales.
Federal Election Commission. Quick Answers to PAC Questions. Retrieved from
http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_pac.shtml
Although slightly edited for format: these ‘responses’ were crafted by undergraduate,
Kaplan students: Discussion Board Example
