Campaign Finance in U.S. History, Part 2
Stuff You Missed in History Class
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The Supreme Court's Decision in Citizens United v. Citizens United
Citizens United is a conservative nonprofit group that had funded a film called Hillary the movie, which was slated for a video on demand release right before the Democratic primaries. The FEC blocked this documentary's advertisements and release as electioneering communication banned under bickra as a big money campaign contribution. Citizens United filed suit based on the case that their First Amendment rights were violated by the regulation. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority decision that quote, independent political spending was covered as free speech under the First Amendment. It grants incredible political power to the wealthy without any legal need for disclosure about sourcing or spending of money.
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The second part of our campaign finance history starts with both a scandal and reform linked to Theodore Roosevelt, and carries through to more recent Supreme Court rulings.
Research:
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- Blakemore, Erin. “Elections in Colonial America Were Huge, Booze-Fueled Parties.” History.com. Nov. 25, 2019. https://www.history.com/news/colonial-america-election-day-parties
- R. Brunson, “Swartwout, Samuel,” Texas State Historical Association. Handbook of Texas Online. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/swartwout-samuel.
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- Fair Political Practices Commission. “Use of Campaign Funds.” Campaign Manual. June 2020. https://www.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-Documents/TAD/Campaign%20Manuals/Manual_4/Manual_4_Ch_7_Use_of_Campaign_Funds.pdf
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- “Washington City, May 19, 1840.” The Baltimore Sun. May 21, 1840. https://www.newspapers.com/image/364961740/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1
- Grizzard, Frank E. “George Washington: A Biographical Companion.” ABC-CLIO 2022.
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- Lau, Tim. “Citizens United Explained.” Brennan Center for Justice. Dec. 12, 2019. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained
- “McConnell v. FEC.” Federal Election Commission United States of America. https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/mcconnell-v-fec/
- “Mark Hanna and the 1896 Election.” United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Hanna_1896Election.htm#:~:text=At%20age%2015%20he%20moved,coal%2C%20iron%2C%20and%20steel.
- “Money-in-politics Timeline.” Open Secrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/resources/learn/timeline
- “Mr. Crittenden’s Speech.” Hartfor Courant. Feb. 14, 1839. https://www.newspapers.com/image/369520711/?terms=%22crittenden%22&match=1
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- “Louisville.” The Courier-Journal. Feb. 4, 1837. https://www.newspapers.com/image/118738402/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1
- “Mr. Bell’s Bill … “ The Natchez Weekly Courier. June 10, 1840. https://www.newspapers.com/image/248855111/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1
- “Naval Appropriation Bill.” The Buffalo Commercial. April 14, 1866. https://www.newspapers.com/image/282153733/?terms=%22Naval%20Appropriations%20Bill%22%20&match=1
- "NEWBERRY, Truman Handy." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/N000062
- “Pendleton Act (1883).” National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/pendleton-act#:~:text=The%20Pendleton%20Act%20provided%20that,were%20covered%20by%20the%20law.
- Perlstein, Rick. "Watergate scandal". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/Watergate-Scandal
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. “Veto of the Smith-Connally Bill.” June 25, 1943. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/veto-the-smith-connally-bill
- Roosevelt, Theodore. “December 5, 1905: Fifth Annual Message.” UVA – Miller Center. https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/december-5-1905-fifth-annual-message
- Scott, Kyle, and Matthew A. Kern. “Buckley v. Valeo (1976).” The First Amendment Encyclopedia. 2009. https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/126/buckley-v-valeo
- “The Election Case of Truman H. Newberry of Michigan (1922).” United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/102Ford_Newberry.htm
- “Naval Appropriation Bill.” The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 14, 1866. https://www.newspapers.com/image/168100996/?terms=%22Naval%20Appropriations%20Bill%22%20&match=1
- Terry, Stephen C. “Major Election Reform Legislation Quietly Approved by Senate.” The Times Argus. March 24, 1976. https://www.newspapers.com/image/657291645/?terms=buckley%20valeo&match=1
- “Tursts for Roosevelt.” Freeport Bulletin. Oct. 20, 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/762693183/?terms=insurance%20roosevelt&match=1
- Thompson, Mary V. “Beer.” George Washington’s Mount Vernon. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/beer/#note3
- United States. “Defalcations. Reports of majority and minority ... Report of the Committee of Investigation on the subject of the defalcations of Samuel Swartwout and others : ... also the report of the minority of the Committee.” Thomas Allen. 1839. Accessed online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007704602
- United States Senate. “Presidential Election Campaign Fund of 1966.” https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/SPrt301.pdf
- Victor, Jennifer Nicoll, Phd. “History of Financing of Federal Campaigns in the US.” Wondrium Daily. July 25, 2021. https://www.wondriumdaily.com/history-of-financing-of-federal-campaigns-in-the-us/
- Woodward, Bob and Brian Duffy. “Chinese Embassy Role in Contributions Probed.” Washington Post. Feb. 13, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/china1.htm
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