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Campaign Spending

Campaign Spending

Campaign spending is the fundraising and spending political candidates use in their election campaigns. Election campaigns are expensive, ranging from travel to advertisements. Candidates devote an extraordinary amount of time running fundraisers and luncheons to draw support for their campaign.

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for Campaign Spending

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  1. What federal agency administers election laws and monitors campaign spending?

    The Federal Election Commission (FEC) monitors campaign spend...

  2. Is the governor pushed through reforms on campaign spending, railroad regulation and civil service in Wisconsin?

    Robert M La Follette Sr. is widely regarded as the man that m...

  3. How might the electoral process be changed if there were no limits on campaign spending?

    The average person would never have a chance to run for offic...

  4. Is the threat to free speech a valid argument for not limiting campaign spending?

    The Supreme court thinks so. Overruling two important precede...

  5. Why is a Reform of campaign spending difficult to accomplish?

    Reform is difficult in any area which will effect the ability...

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for Campaign Spending

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  1. How much money did Barack Obama Spend on his 2008 presidential campaign?

    President-Elect Barack Obama, spent over 600 million dollars ...

  2. Is there a limit to campaign spending?

    There are currently no federal laws that cap campaign spendin...

  3. What is the relationship between campaign spending and electoral success?

    There is some consensus that spending can and does play a maj...

  4. Is the governor pushed through reforms on campaign spending, railroad regulation and civil service in Wisconsin?

    Robert M La Follette Sr. is widely regarded as the man that m...

  5. How much can a candidate spend on there campaign?

    The amount a candidate can spent on the campaign depends on t...

About Campaign Spending

In the United States, campaign financing is provided through private support. Individuals have the option to financially contribute to a candidate of their liking. Corporations and trade unions are also allowed to contribute to political candidates. The Supreme Court has upheld this form of finance under the First Amendment. In Buckley v. Valeo, the Supreme Court ruled spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech. In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that a provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act prohibiting unions, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations from broadcasting electioneering communications within a month of a primary violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment.

However, in recent years, there is public perception that donors who contribute greatly receive favorable treatment from the officials they support. In Maine and Arizona state legislators are elected using public finance campaign money. California is currently awaiting a referendum vote on public financing. Supporters of public financing say because candidates have finite cash, they will spend it wisely. Also, the citizens would have more responsible officials.

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TILTON, NH - JANUARY 06: A young supporter of Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney takes a plate of food during a spaghetti dinner at Tilton School on January 6, 2012 in Tilton, New Hampshire. After spending a day campaigning in South Carolina, Mitt Romney returned to New Hampshire to make a final push ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

TILTON, NH - JANUARY 06: Tilton School head master Jim Clemens (R) looks on as republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney looks at a copy of the 1968 Tilton School yearbook that features photos of his father when he was running for president before the start of a spaghetti dinner at Tilton School on January 6, 2012 in Tilton, New Hampshire. After spending a day campaigning in South Carolina, Mitt Romney returned to New Hampshire to make a final push ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

A Spanish 'indignant' protester holds a placard reading 'On November 20, do not vote for a francoist' during a protest in front of a campaign meeting of the far-right party 'Plataforma per Catalunya' on November 13, 2011 in Barcelona. Hundreds of Spain's 'indignant' protesters marched through the streets of Madrid Sunday to protest spending cuts, high unemployment and political corruption, a week before a general election. In Barcelona about 30 members of the movement decided at an assembly Saturday to camp out in the Plaza de Catalunya until the general election on November 20.

US President Barack Obama waves to his supporters during a campaign event in San Francisco, California, on October 25, 2011. Obama unveiled a stopgap plan Monday to ease the bite of the real estate crisis for cash-strapped homeowners while attacking Congress for blocking spending to create more jobs. Thwarted by Republican opposition to his bigger jobs and stimulus package, Obama has shifted tactics by looking for action he can take without congressional approval to provide at least modest economic relief.

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Campaign Spending