Campaign Finance Reform (Citizen's United)
Background:
On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote reversed the Austin vs. Michigan Chamber of Commerce (1990) ruling that limited the ability of companies and/or organizations to support and/or oppose candidates for State offices. The reversal held that political spending is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, and the government may not keep corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections. While corporations or unions may not give money directly to campaigns, they may seek to persuade the voting public through other means, including ads.
Relevance & Impact:
The Citizens United ruling has transformed politics in America with increased funding of campaigns, influence of outside money from political action committees (PAC) and the proliferation of "dark money," or expenditures by 501(c)4 or trade organizations that do not have to be disclosed to the public. Outside money from PAC's grew exponentially during mid-term elections:
On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote reversed the Austin vs. Michigan Chamber of Commerce (1990) ruling that limited the ability of companies and/or organizations to support and/or oppose candidates for State offices. The reversal held that political spending is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, and the government may not keep corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections. While corporations or unions may not give money directly to campaigns, they may seek to persuade the voting public through other means, including ads.
Relevance & Impact:
The Citizens United ruling has transformed politics in America with increased funding of campaigns, influence of outside money from political action committees (PAC) and the proliferation of "dark money," or expenditures by 501(c)4 or trade organizations that do not have to be disclosed to the public. Outside money from PAC's grew exponentially during mid-term elections:
Currently, 2016 is projecting to be most expensive Presidential election in history, on pace to surpass 2012:
As Citizens United allows for money to be considered as protected speech in support for or against a candidate, it does not consider the impact for minority communities and how speech can be limited by less access to resources. Consider that the majority of campaign contributors and donors are overwhelmingly white and have interests that align with furthering corporate interests, not the interests of the average, middle-class American worker. Further, with increasing income inequality, minority communities are again underserved and underrepresented in today's current political climate with the inability to contribute large sums of outside money.
American Muslims currently comprise approximately 3.3M of the current U.S. population. That 3.3M includes the diversity of various races, ethnicities and other cultural disparities that will impact on their adherence to a singular Super PAC. The average ($54,898,672) fundraising of the current top 5 PAC entities would require mobilization of resources from a small population of the American public.
While the ability to provide funds in support or against a candidate may be a form of protected free speech and has created additional opportunities, income disparities have created another opportunity to drown out the voices of minority communities and, specifically, the American Muslim community.
Recommendations:
Institute Limits on Contributions and/or Expenditures of Outside Money: Currently, speech is fully protected and contributions for or against a candidate is considered speech. To mitigate the potential of underrepresented communities not being able to voice their speech effectively against other wealthy Americans, limits on contributions and/or expenditures can be instituted to promote less potential of corruption and proper representation of minority communities.
Institute Public Financing of Elections: More information here
American Muslims currently comprise approximately 3.3M of the current U.S. population. That 3.3M includes the diversity of various races, ethnicities and other cultural disparities that will impact on their adherence to a singular Super PAC. The average ($54,898,672) fundraising of the current top 5 PAC entities would require mobilization of resources from a small population of the American public.
While the ability to provide funds in support or against a candidate may be a form of protected free speech and has created additional opportunities, income disparities have created another opportunity to drown out the voices of minority communities and, specifically, the American Muslim community.
Recommendations:
Institute Limits on Contributions and/or Expenditures of Outside Money: Currently, speech is fully protected and contributions for or against a candidate is considered speech. To mitigate the potential of underrepresented communities not being able to voice their speech effectively against other wealthy Americans, limits on contributions and/or expenditures can be instituted to promote less potential of corruption and proper representation of minority communities.
Institute Public Financing of Elections: More information here
