#AP US Government: Campaign Finance - The Ultimate Study Guide 💰

Hey future AP Gov rockstar! Let's break down campaign finance like it's a game we're about to win. This guide is your secret weapon for acing the exam. Let's get started!

#🏛️ The Basics: Money, Politics, and Free Speech

Campaign finance is all about the role of money in elections and how it intersects with free speech rights. It's a constant tug-of-war between regulating donations and protecting political expression. Think of it as a high-stakes chess game ♟️ where the rules are always changing.

#📜 Early Attempts at Regulation

• Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) (1971, amended 1974): *

#💰 Hard Money vs. Soft Money

• Hard Money: Funds given directly to a candidate. Regulated by FECA.
• Soft Money: Donations to political parties or interest groups. Not regulated by FECA. 💡 This loophole led to a surge in campaign spending.

json
{
  "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
}

#⚖️ The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002

Also known as McCain-Feingold, this act aimed to close the soft money loophole and increase transparency. Think of it as Congress trying to tighten the rules of the game 🎮.

• Key Provisions:
  • Banned soft money contributions to political parties.
  • Prohibited corporations and unions from using general funds for electioneering ...