Larry J. Sabato And The Pacs

Larry J. Sabato and the PACs Political Action Committees and their role in the American Political Process Vit Dolbilov, Josh Hammond, Kevin Li, Ruth Shih

Sequence of Events     

Costs of campaigning skyrocketed with the growth of TV Watergate scandal (1972-1974) Campaign finance reform Federal Election Campaign Act (1974) Spread Political Action Committees (PACs)  

Funding vehicles Corporations, unions, and other interest groups can create a PAC and register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which will monitor expenditures.

Criticisms of PACs 1.

Expenses A. B.

2. 3.

Sway media attention, candidate coverage Competition – monetary based?

Bias towards incumbent Corruption

Sabato’s Response 

Not cause-and-effect relationship Rising costs due to publicity, not increased availability.

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Independent contributor’s bias Exaggerated congressional power No large national interests affected.

Madisonian Framework    

Federalist No. 10 Interest groups as factions Competition + free society = democracy Promoting the commonwealth

Evidence of PAC Misuse?  

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PACs give money to candidates who already agree with them Watergate Scandal  Burglars, 1972 “CREEP”  Individual donations totaling $89k. Federal Trade Commission  Car dealers, mechanical defects list  National Association of Automobile Dealers contributions  Regulation nullified  186 out of 216 in HoR had been aided by PAC Otherwise, there is “no data” that supports assertions about PACs buying votes in Congress (p 285).

Evidence of PAC Misuse? /c 

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PAC effects on presidents due to monetary reasons unlikely Presidential campaigns publicly funded, therefore less dependent on PACs Exaggerated influence of PACs?

Congressional Concerns   

Party Affiliation Ideology Constituents’ needs and desires

Opinions?