Campaign Finance

I. Soft Money: Unregulated campaign contributions to political parties or money spent by "527" organizations

  1. Buckley v. Valeo (1976): Money is the equivalent of speech and protected by the 1stAmendment.
  2. "Soft Money" and the 1998 congressional campaign


  3. "Soft Money" in congressional campaigns, 2000 to 2004


  4. The "527" Organizations in the 2006 Election

II. Campaign Finance Reform: The California Political Reform Act (Prop. 208)

  1. Voluntary Spending Limits

  2. Limitations on individual contributions

  3. Contributions from lobbyists prohibited

  4. Fundraising in non-election years prohibited

  5. Bundling Prohibited