Super PACs Political Action Committees

1. Super PACs Political Action Committees Mr. Giesler American History

2. Washington’s Dirty Little Secret • Technically known as independent expenditure-only committees • Super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates. • Super PACs must, however, report their donors to the Federal Election Commission on a monthly or quarterly basis • Unlike traditional PACs, Super PACs are prohibited from donating money directly to political candidates.

3. “Your Voice, Your Vote” or “Your Money, Your Vote” • Presidential candidates may accept contributions of $2,500 from individuals and $5,000 from political action committees. • Individual supporters long have been free to spend more — as much as they wished — as long as they did not coordinate with campaigns. • TTYN:Recall the name of the court ruling by the Supreme Court that made SuperPACs possible? • The the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United, combined with lower court decisions, has opened up new horizons for independent expenditures. • Corporations and labor unions, as well as wealthy individuals, are now free to spend unlimited amounts, and these contributions can be bundled by a political action committee.

4. Deniability • “Political strategists, Republicans and Democrats alike, are bulldozing through that opening, creating parallel campaign structures without the annoyance of contribution limits.” • Candidate-specific super PACs tend to be run by former staff of the candidate. • Money usually comes from the candidate’s top supporters. • With anodyne names and no candidate fingerprints, the PACs can do the dirty work without the candidate having to take responsibility. shhhh it’s a secret

5. PAC or SuperPAC • A Political Action Conference is a committee formed by business, labor, or other special-interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaigns of political candidates whom they support. • The 2010 election marks the rise of a new political committee, dubbed “super PACs,” and officially known as “independent-expenditure only committees,” which can raise unlimited sums from corporations, unions and other groups, as well as wealthy individuals. The super PACs were made possible by two court rulings, including one earlier in 2010 by the Supreme Court, that lifted many spending and contribution limits. The groups can also mount the kind of direct attacks on candidates that were not allowed in the past. Super PACs are not allowed to coordinate directly with candidates or political parties and must disclose their donors.

6. Small Group Activity Brainstorm: Using your prior knowledge, try to identify as many different types of SuperPACs as possible. In other words, think about causes, interest groups, and other issues that would want to have their message heard, have the will to lobby for financial support, and the determination to influence an election.

10. How it works: The Raw Truth • Scenario: • I am a “filthy-rich “ casino owner • I hate everything there is about Mitt Romney • I fear his economic polices will have an adverse effect on my business • More importantly, as a “true” conservative, I am convinced that Romeny does not share my values and hope for America • Did I mention that I am “filthy-rich”?? • I believe that I politically and socially align with Newt Gingrich • I can either organize my very-own SuperPAC or contribute to an existing PAC that supports Gingrich or opposes Romney • I decide to drop 5M into a PAC, with its sole purpose of - to derail, humiliate, and equally important, shift the electoral outcome of an presidential nomination process.

11. Homework • In short-answer format, answer the following questions • Would the winning candidate feel beholden or indebted to a generous contributor? • Do you believe their is a risk for political corruption? Please explain. Possible solutions? • Do you see any obvious problems continuing with the status quo (SuperPACs)? Please defend your answer • Are there any benefits from SuperPACs? Please supports your decision