Super PACs can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts, but what do they do with their money? ... more Super PACs can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts, but what do they do with their money? What goals do super PACs pursue in allocating their money? We analyze how super PACS spent their money in the 2012 federal elections. What principles guided super PAC spending strategies? Do they follow strategies similar to traditional PACs? We argue that their spending patterns have changed the dynamics of federal campaign finance by directing more funds to individual candidate races than in the past, particularly through candidate-specific super PACs. We find that most super PACs spend their money differently than conventional PACs in that they are less interested in access to sitting lawmakers and more focused on an electoral strategy to affect the partisan composition of government. Thus many super PACs behave more like political parties than traditional PACs.
This title comes from the authors of "Legislative Labyrinth: Congress and Campaign Finance R... more This title comes from the authors of "Legislative Labyrinth: Congress and Campaign Finance Reform". Elections, the basic mechanism of representative democracy, should be untainted by corruption and provide a platform for free speech. But running for office takes money - a lot of it, usually - which means campaign finance has become a pitched battle over the fundamental political values of free speech versus fair elections. With insiders' perspectives, Farrar-Myers and Dwyre tell the story of what it took to pass campaign finance legislation, provide analysis of the subsequent court action, and explore the regulatory and electoral outcomes of reform efforts. "Limits and Loopholes" is a story about incremental policymaking and inter-branch struggle, about institutional design and unintended consequences, about the influence of interest groups and the media, and about the health of our representative democracy. Bringing together discussions of core values and the policymaking process, this book serves as an excellent case study that traces an issue from inception, through legislation and litigation, and finally to implementation.
We examine the use of JFCs by U.S. Senate candidates before and after the McCutcheon decision to ... more We examine the use of JFCs by U.S. Senate candidates before and after the McCutcheon decision to determine how Senate candidates use these committees and to discover any changes in the use of JFCs and the amounts raised by Senate candidates. We develop a typology of Senate JFCs based the membership of the JFCs and on how the proceeds of the JFC are distributed. This preliminary analysis reveals different types of JFCs, and some modest changes after the McCutcheon decision. We do not find, however, that in the U.S. Senate context, JFCs are significant players that led to an explosion of additional contributions by wealthy donors. Our analysis has made clear that as one digs deeper into the activities of individual JFCs, a much more complex picture emerges of their utility for candidates.
This engaging and accessible case study - of interest to those studying Congress, the policymakin... more This engaging and accessible case study - of interest to those studying Congress, the policymaking process, or campaign finance reform - analyzes the contemporary policy making process through the lens of the recent effort to enact campaign finance reform. Written by two scholars who worked in key congressional offices as APSA fellows, "Legislative Labyrinth" offers an insider's perspective and fascinating insights that most other books on policy making do not. The book explores the many components of the legislative process: the use of unconventional legislative procedures; the role of policy entrepreneurs and issue leaders; the importance of political parties; and, the impact that outside forces (such as the president, interest groups, and the media) have on Congress' internal workings. The book also considers the policy questions raised by campaign finance reform and why this issue generates such intense debate within Congress. Arranged by topic, the book complements textbook coverage and gives students a thoroughly rich view of the process.
There is a good deal of discussion currently among political scientists about the nature of polit... more There is a good deal of discussion currently among political scientists about the nature of political parties and the impacts of changing party–group relations. Are so-called outside groups promoting extreme candidates and, thus, contributing to polarization? Or perhaps, party-allied groups follow the party’s lead and support the same candidates the party supports. We view parties as extended party networks (EPNs) and examine the campaign spending practices of formal party organizations (the House congressional campaign committees) and some of the groups that are seen as allied with each party and some we expect to be outside each party’s network. We analyze the levels of congruence and divergence in party and group spending in the 2014 House elections. We find that most nonparty groups support the same candidates favored by the party with which they most identify, and very few are outside each party’s EPN-supporting candidates who are challenging the party’s picks.
Super PACs can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts, but what do they do with their money? ... more Super PACs can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts, but what do they do with their money? What goals do super PACs pursue in allocating their money? We analyze how super PACS spent their money in the 2012 federal elections. What principles guided super PAC spending strategies? Do they follow strategies similar to traditional PACs? We argue that their spending patterns have changed the dynamics of federal campaign finance by directing more funds to individual candidate races than in the past, particularly through candidate-specific super PACs. We find that most super PACs spend their money differently than conventional PACs in that they are less interested in access to sitting lawmakers and more focused on an electoral strategy to affect the partisan composition of government. Thus many super PACs behave more like political parties than traditional PACs.
Super PACs can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts, but what do they do with their money? ... more Super PACs can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts, but what do they do with their money? What goals do super PACs pursue in allocating their money? We analyze how super PACS spent their money in the 2012 federal elections. What principles guided super PAC spending strategies? Do they follow strategies similar to traditional PACs? We argue that their spending patterns have changed the dynamics of federal campaign finance by directing more funds to individual candidate races than in the past, particularly through candidate-specific super PACs. We find that most super PACs spend their money differently than conventional PACs in that they are less interested in access to sitting lawmakers and more focused on an electoral strategy to affect the partisan composition of government. Thus many super PACs behave more like political parties than traditional PACs.
This title comes from the authors of "Legislative Labyrinth: Congress and Campaign Finance R... more This title comes from the authors of "Legislative Labyrinth: Congress and Campaign Finance Reform". Elections, the basic mechanism of representative democracy, should be untainted by corruption and provide a platform for free speech. But running for office takes money - a lot of it, usually - which means campaign finance has become a pitched battle over the fundamental political values of free speech versus fair elections. With insiders' perspectives, Farrar-Myers and Dwyre tell the story of what it took to pass campaign finance legislation, provide analysis of the subsequent court action, and explore the regulatory and electoral outcomes of reform efforts. "Limits and Loopholes" is a story about incremental policymaking and inter-branch struggle, about institutional design and unintended consequences, about the influence of interest groups and the media, and about the health of our representative democracy. Bringing together discussions of core values and the policymaking process, this book serves as an excellent case study that traces an issue from inception, through legislation and litigation, and finally to implementation.
We examine the use of JFCs by U.S. Senate candidates before and after the McCutcheon decision to ... more We examine the use of JFCs by U.S. Senate candidates before and after the McCutcheon decision to determine how Senate candidates use these committees and to discover any changes in the use of JFCs and the amounts raised by Senate candidates. We develop a typology of Senate JFCs based the membership of the JFCs and on how the proceeds of the JFC are distributed. This preliminary analysis reveals different types of JFCs, and some modest changes after the McCutcheon decision. We do not find, however, that in the U.S. Senate context, JFCs are significant players that led to an explosion of additional contributions by wealthy donors. Our analysis has made clear that as one digs deeper into the activities of individual JFCs, a much more complex picture emerges of their utility for candidates.
This engaging and accessible case study - of interest to those studying Congress, the policymakin... more This engaging and accessible case study - of interest to those studying Congress, the policymaking process, or campaign finance reform - analyzes the contemporary policy making process through the lens of the recent effort to enact campaign finance reform. Written by two scholars who worked in key congressional offices as APSA fellows, "Legislative Labyrinth" offers an insider's perspective and fascinating insights that most other books on policy making do not. The book explores the many components of the legislative process: the use of unconventional legislative procedures; the role of policy entrepreneurs and issue leaders; the importance of political parties; and, the impact that outside forces (such as the president, interest groups, and the media) have on Congress' internal workings. The book also considers the policy questions raised by campaign finance reform and why this issue generates such intense debate within Congress. Arranged by topic, the book complements textbook coverage and gives students a thoroughly rich view of the process.
There is a good deal of discussion currently among political scientists about the nature of polit... more There is a good deal of discussion currently among political scientists about the nature of political parties and the impacts of changing party–group relations. Are so-called outside groups promoting extreme candidates and, thus, contributing to polarization? Or perhaps, party-allied groups follow the party’s lead and support the same candidates the party supports. We view parties as extended party networks (EPNs) and examine the campaign spending practices of formal party organizations (the House congressional campaign committees) and some of the groups that are seen as allied with each party and some we expect to be outside each party’s network. We analyze the levels of congruence and divergence in party and group spending in the 2014 House elections. We find that most nonparty groups support the same candidates favored by the party with which they most identify, and very few are outside each party’s EPN-supporting candidates who are challenging the party’s picks.
Super PACs can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts, but what do they do with their money? ... more Super PACs can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts, but what do they do with their money? What goals do super PACs pursue in allocating their money? We analyze how super PACS spent their money in the 2012 federal elections. What principles guided super PAC spending strategies? Do they follow strategies similar to traditional PACs? We argue that their spending patterns have changed the dynamics of federal campaign finance by directing more funds to individual candidate races than in the past, particularly through candidate-specific super PACs. We find that most super PACs spend their money differently than conventional PACs in that they are less interested in access to sitting lawmakers and more focused on an electoral strategy to affect the partisan composition of government. Thus many super PACs behave more like political parties than traditional PACs.
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