How do the wealthy influence politics? - The wealthy can assert influence through donations and interest groups - PACs and Super PACs PACs (Political Action Committee) - Collect money from members to donate for or against a politician or bill - Pool large amounts of money together for more effectiveness - An organization becomes a PAC when it receives or spends $2,700 for the express Purpose of influencing an election - Limits to PACs - An individual may give $2,700 to each candidate per election - An individual may give $5,000 to a PAC in a year - A PAC may give $5,000 to each candidate per election - A PAC may give $15,000 to one political party per year PACs and Super PACs - Super PACs - Have no limit to what they can spend on a candidate or election - Money cannot be directly given to candidate, but can spend to help them Get elected. - May run ads and commercials for their own candidate or against political opponents Citizens United (2010) -Supreme court case ruled that restrictions on independent political spending were Unconstitutional - Ruled as an issue of free speech, protected by the first amendment - Ruled that the first amendment protects not just people but corporations and unions - Criticisms - Heavily criticized as letting people buy elections, allows the rich to have more influence - Corporations as people with rights - Prevents non-wealthy people from being elected - Candidate still have a lot of control over Super PACs