This document discusses campaign finance in the United States. It provides data on election spending from 2004 to 2012, with spending peaking at over $1 billion in 2012. It also outlines some key Supreme Court cases that have shaped campaign finance law, such as Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United v. FEC. The document defines terms like "hard money," "soft money," and "fat cats" as they relate to campaign contributions and financing.

1. CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Courtney Mann , Alley Dever , and Will Harris

2. ELECTION SPENDING
2012 : 1.03 billion
2010 : 288 million
2008 : 286 million
2006 : 60 million
2004 : 190 million

3. TOP SPENDING
2004 : Bush
2008 : Obama
2012 : Obama

4. CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT
Originally signed in the 1970’s .
It was established in an attempt to regulate
campaign finance by legislation

5. HARD MONEY
 money given directly to a candidate to assist .

6. SOFT MONEY
Money that can be spent by a political party.
Can be used towards grass roots organizations,
recruitment, advertising, etc.…
Must be put in a NON- federal bank account
can’t be used towards president or elections

7. FAT CATS
 Wealthy contributor
To campaign fund.

8. BUCKLEY VS. VALEO
 Lawsuit filed due to the passing of amendments to federal election
campaign 1971
 Limited contributions to federal office
 Provided for public financing of president elections
 limited expenditures by candidates and associated committees
 Filed by James L. Buckley
 Against Francis R Valeo, court decided in favor of valeo except the
limited expenditures law was canceled.

9. C I T I Z E N S U N I T E D V S. F E D E RA L
ELECTIONS COMMISSION
 Supreme court case in which the court held that the first
amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent
political expenditures by corporations and unions

10. WORK CITED PAGE
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipatisan_Rampaign_Reform_Act
 http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2008/10/21/data-points-
presidential-campaign
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/13/campaign-finance-
reform_n_2122811.html
 http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=424&
invol=1
 http://dictionary.reference.com/