{
  "multiple_choice": [
    {
      "question": "Which of the following best describes the concept of 'soft money' in campaign finance?",
      "options": [
        "A. Funds given directly to a candidate's campaign.",
        "B. Donations to political parties or interest groups that are not regulated by federal law.",
        "C. Money spent by Super PACs on independent expenditures.",
        "D. Funds raised by candidates for personal use."
      ],
      "answer": "B"
    },
    {
      "question": "The Supreme Court case *Buckley v. Valeo* (1975) is significant because it:",
      "options": [
        "A. Upheld all provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act.",
        "B. Struck down all provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act.",
        "C. Ruled that spending money on political campaigns is a form of free speech.",
        "D. Created the Federal Election Commission."
      ],
      "answer": "C"
    }
  ],
  "short_answer": "Briefly explain how the distinction between 'hard money' and 'soft money' affected campaign finance regulations in the late 20th century.",
  "free_response": null
}

{
  "multiple_choice": [
    {
      "question": "The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) primarily aimed to:",
      "options": [
        "A. Increase the amount of 'soft money' in campaigns.",
        "B. Ban 'soft money' contributions to political parties.",
        "C. Allow unlimited corporate spending in elections.",
        "D. Reduce the disclosure requirements for political ads."
      ],
      "answer": "B"
    },
    {
      "question": "Which of the following is a key provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)?",
      "options": [
        "A. Allowing unlimited contributions from individuals to candidates.",
        "B. Permitting corporations to contribute directly to political parties.",
        "C. Banning soft money contributions to political parties.",
        "D. Eliminating disclosure requirements for political advertisements."
      ],
      "answer": "C"
    }
  ],
  "short_answer": "Explain one criticism of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) and its impact on campaign finance.",
  "free_response": null
}

{
  "multiple_choice": [
    {
      "question": "What was the primary holding of the Supreme Court in *Citizens United v. FEC* (2010)?",
      "options": [
        "A. That corporations do not have First Amendment rights.",
        "B. That corporations have the same free speech rights as individuals.",
        "C. That the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was completely constitutional.",
         "D. That all forms of campaign spending should be publicly financed."
      ],
      "answer": "B"
    },
    {
      "question": "Which of the following is a direct consequence of the Supreme Court's decision in *Citizens United v. FEC* (2010)?",
      "options": [
        "A. A decrease in corporate spending in elections.",
        "B. The elimination of Super PACs.",
        "C. An increase in corporate and union spending in elections.",
        "D. Stricter limits on individual contributions to candidates."
      ],
      "answer": "C"
    }
  ],
  "short_answer": "Explain how the *Citizens United v. FEC* decision changed the landscape of campaign finance in the United States.",
  "free_response": null
}

{
  "multiple_choice": [
    {
      "question": "Which of the following is a key difference between traditional PACs and Super PACs?",
      "options": [
        "A. Traditional PACs can accept unlimited contributions, while Super PACs are limited by FEC regulations.",
        "B. Super PACs can spend unlimited money on electioneering communications, while traditional PACs are limited.",
        "C. Traditional PACs are required to disclose their donors, while Super PACs are not.",
        "D. Super PACs can donate directly to candidates, while traditional PACs cannot."
      ],
      "answer": "B"
    },
    {
      "question": "What is the primary limitation on Super PACs regarding their relationship with political candidates?",
      "options": [
        "A. They cannot spend any money on political advertisements.",
        "B. They cannot coordinate their activities with candidates.",
        "C. They can only donate to candidates who agree with their political views.",
        "D. They are limited in the amount of money they can raise."
      ],
      "answer": "B"
    }
  ],
  "short_answer": "Briefly describe the role of Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs in campaign finance.",
    "free_response": {
        "question": "The role of money in political campaigns has been a contentious issue in American politics. Some argue that campaign finance regulations are necessary to prevent corruption and ensure fair elections, while others argue that such regulations infringe on free speech rights. Develop an argument that either supports or opposes campaign finance regulations. In your response, you should:
\n(a) Define ‘soft money’ and explain how it was addressed by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA).
\n(b) Explain how the Supreme Court’s decision in *Citizens United v. FEC* (2010) has impacted campaign finance.
\n(c) Provide an argument in favor of or against campaign finance regulations, using evidence from the cases and concepts discussed above.",
        "scoring_guidelines": [
          {
            "point": 1,
            "description": "One point for accurately defining ‘soft money’ as donations to political parties or interest groups not directly regulated by federal law. One point for explaining that the BCRA banned soft money contributions to political parties."
          },
          {
            "point": 1,
            "description": "One point for explaining that the *Citizens United v. FEC* decision ruled that corporations have the same free speech rights as individuals and struck down BCRA's limits on corporate and union independent expenditures. One point for mentioning the rise of Super PACs as a result."
          },
          {
            "point": 1,
            "description": "One point for presenting a clear argument that either supports or opposes campaign finance regulations. The argument must be logically consistent and supported by evidence from the cases and concepts discussed."
          },
           {
            "point": 1,
             "description": "One point for providing evidence to support the argument made in part (c). Evidence may include the impact of the *Citizens United* decision on corporate spending, the role of Super PACs, or the goals of the BCRA."
           }
        ]
      }
}