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Campaign Finance Reform: Proposals and Controversies

Description: This quiz will test your knowledge of campaign finance reform proposals and controversies.
Number of Questions: 14
Created by:
Tags: politics political fundraising campaign finance reform
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What is the primary goal of campaign finance reform?

  1. To reduce the influence of money in politics

  2. To increase voter turnout

  3. To make elections more competitive

  4. To promote transparency in political fundraising


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Campaign finance reform seeks to reduce the influence of money in politics by limiting the amount of money that can be donated to candidates and political parties, and by increasing transparency in political fundraising.

Which of the following is a common proposal for campaign finance reform?

  1. Public financing of elections

  2. Limits on individual contributions

  3. Limits on PAC contributions

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Common proposals for campaign finance reform include public financing of elections, limits on individual contributions, limits on PAC contributions, and increased transparency in political fundraising.

What is the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court case about?

  1. It upheld the ban on corporate and union spending in elections

  2. It struck down the ban on corporate and union spending in elections

  3. It upheld the ban on individual contributions to candidates

  4. It struck down the ban on individual contributions to candidates


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court case struck down the ban on corporate and union spending in elections, allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

What is the DISCLOSE Act?

  1. A bill that would require super PACs to disclose their donors

  2. A bill that would ban corporate and union spending in elections

  3. A bill that would provide public financing of elections

  4. A bill that would limit individual contributions to candidates


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The DISCLOSE Act is a bill that would require super PACs to disclose their donors. Super PACs are political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns, but they are not required to disclose their donors.

What is the role of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in campaign finance reform?

  1. To enforce campaign finance laws

  2. To regulate political advertising

  3. To provide public financing of elections

  4. To investigate allegations of campaign finance violations


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that enforces campaign finance laws. The FEC also regulates political advertising and investigates allegations of campaign finance violations.

What is the Hatch Act?

  1. A law that prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity

  2. A law that regulates political advertising

  3. A law that provides public financing of elections

  4. A law that limits individual contributions to candidates


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Hatch Act is a law that prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity. This includes running for office, campaigning for candidates, and soliciting or receiving political contributions.

What is the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)?

  1. A law that banned soft money contributions

  2. A law that increased the limits on individual contributions

  3. A law that provided public financing of elections

  4. A law that regulated political advertising


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) is a law that banned soft money contributions to political parties. Soft money is money that is not subject to the same contribution limits as hard money. BCRA also increased the limits on individual contributions to candidates.

What is the role of the Supreme Court in campaign finance reform?

  1. To interpret campaign finance laws

  2. To regulate political advertising

  3. To provide public financing of elections

  4. To investigate allegations of campaign finance violations


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Supreme Court plays a role in campaign finance reform by interpreting campaign finance laws. The Court has ruled on several cases involving campaign finance, including Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission.

What is the controversy surrounding super PACs?

  1. They are not required to disclose their donors

  2. They can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money

  3. They are allowed to coordinate with candidates

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Super PACs are political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns. They are not required to disclose their donors, and they are allowed to coordinate with candidates. This has led to concerns that super PACs are giving wealthy donors too much influence in elections.

What is the controversy surrounding dark money?

  1. It is money that is spent on political campaigns without disclosing the source

  2. It is money that is spent on political campaigns by foreign governments

  3. It is money that is spent on political campaigns by corporations

  4. It is money that is spent on political campaigns by unions


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Dark money is money that is spent on political campaigns without disclosing the source. This can be done through super PACs, 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, and other non-profit organizations. Dark money has become a major source of funding for political campaigns, and it has raised concerns about the influence of undisclosed donors in elections.

What is the controversy surrounding gerrymandering?

  1. It is the practice of drawing electoral districts to favor one political party over another

  2. It is the practice of redrawing electoral districts after each census

  3. It is the practice of using public funds to finance political campaigns

  4. It is the practice of allowing voters to vote early


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral districts to favor one political party over another. This can be done by packing voters of one party into a small number of districts, or by cracking voters of one party across multiple districts. Gerrymandering has become a major issue in recent years, as it has been used to give one party an unfair advantage in elections.

What is the controversy surrounding voter suppression?

  1. It is the practice of making it more difficult for people to vote

  2. It is the practice of preventing people from voting

  3. It is the practice of intimidating voters

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Voter suppression is the practice of making it more difficult for people to vote. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as requiring voters to show photo identification, closing polling places in minority communities, and purging voter rolls. Voter suppression has become a major issue in recent years, as it has been used to disenfranchise minority voters and other groups.

What is the controversy surrounding the Electoral College?

  1. It gives too much power to small states

  2. It allows candidates to win the presidency without winning the popular vote

  3. It is undemocratic

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Electoral College is a system of electing the President of the United States. Each state has a number of electors equal to its number of representatives in the House of Representatives plus its two senators. The electors meet in their respective states and cast their votes for President and Vice President. The candidate who receives the majority of electoral votes becomes President. The Electoral College has been criticized for giving too much power to small states, allowing candidates to win the presidency without winning the popular vote, and being undemocratic.

What is the controversy surrounding campaign finance reform?

  1. It is too restrictive

  2. It is too lenient

  3. It is unfair to certain groups

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Campaign finance reform is a controversial issue. Some people believe that it is too restrictive and that it stifles free speech. Others believe that it is too lenient and that it allows wealthy donors to have too much influence in elections. Still others believe that it is unfair to certain groups, such as unions and corporations. The debate over campaign finance reform is likely to continue for many years to come.

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