Changes

There are two types of funds:  [[hard money]] and [[soft money]].  In simple terms, hard money consists of donations to campaigns, while soft money consists of other expenditures that do not "expressly advocate" the election or defeat of a candidate.

There are two types of funds:  [[hard money]] and [[soft money]].  In simple terms, hard money consists of donations to campaigns, while soft money consists of other expenditures that do not "expressly advocate" the election or defeat of a candidate.

Until it [[Citizens United v. FEC|was overturned]] in January 2010, Federal law prohibited corporations and unions from donating directly to a candidate for him to spend on his campaign, but most states allowed for some types of corporate donations.  Small corporations that satisfy the "[[Federal Election Commission v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life|MCFL]]" exception have been allowed to donate to candidates since 1986.  Instead, corporations and unions were forced to establish [[political action committee]]s (PACs) for raising money for the purpose of donating to campaigns - a restriction which the Supreme Court has since called "burdensome alternatives... expensive to administer and subject to extensive regulations... onerous"<ref>[[Citizens United v. FEC]], January 2010</ref>.

Until it [[Citizens United v. FEC|was overturned]] in January 2010, Federal law prohibited corporations and unions from donating directly to a candidate for him to spend on his campaign, but most states allowed for some types of corporate donations.  Small corporations that satisfy the "[[Federal Election Commission v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life|MCFL]]" exception have been allowed to donate to candidates since 1986.  Instead, corporations and unions were forced to establish [[political action committee]]s (PACs) for raising money for the purpose of donating to campaigns - a restriction which the Supreme Court has since called "burdensome alternatives... expensive to administer and subject to extensive regulations... onerous".<ref>[[Citizens United v. FEC]], January 2010</ref>

Incumbents have an incentive to restrict the ability of challengers to raise money, and also to prevent independent groups to spend money criticizing the incumbents.  Repeatedly legislators have passed limitations on campaign spending, but many of those restrictions have been declared unconstitutional under the [[Free Speech Clause]] of the Constitution.<ref>''[[Buckley v. Valeo]]'' (1976); [[Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life]], 2007; [[Citizens United v. FEC]], January 2010</ref>

Incumbents have an incentive to restrict the ability of challengers to raise money, and also to prevent independent groups to spend money criticizing the incumbents.  Repeatedly legislators have passed limitations on campaign spending, but many of those restrictions have been declared unconstitutional under the [[Free Speech Clause]] of the Constitution.<ref>''[[Buckley v. Valeo]]'' (1976); [[Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life]], 2007; [[Citizens United v. FEC]], January 2010</ref>

<references/>

<references/>

[[category:Election Terms]]

[[Category:Election Terms]]