Campaign Finance Timeline in the United States

Campaign finance regulation in the United States has a complex and evolving history, shaped by concerns about corruption, influence, and fairness. Here’s a brief timeline highlighting key milestones:

Early Attempts at Regulation (Late 19th - Early 20th Centuries)

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the first tentative steps toward regulating campaign finance. These initial efforts were largely driven by anxieties about the power of corporations and the influence of wealthy individuals.

• 1907: Tillman Act: This act prohibited corporations and national banks from contributing money to federal political campaigns. It marked the first federal attempt to limit corporate influence in politics.
• 1910: Federal Corrupt Practices Act: This act required disclosure of campaign contributions in House elections. While a step forward, it was largely ineffective due to loopholes and weak enforcement.
• 1911: Amendments to the Federal Corrupt Practices Act: These amendments extended the disclosure requirements to Senate elections and set spending limits. However, enforcement remained a challenge.

The Modern Era Begins: FECA (1970s)

The Watergate scandal in the early 1970s exposed widespread campaign finance abuses and created a strong public demand for reform. This led to the passage of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) in 1971, with significant amendments in 1974.

• 1971: Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA): Introduced disclosure requirements for campaign contributions and expenditures, and limited contributions from individuals and political committees.
• 1974 Amendments to FECA: These amendments were a response to Watergate and established the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to enforce campaign finance laws. They also set stricter limits on individual and PAC contributions, and provided for public financing of presidential campaigns.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

This landmark Supreme Court case significantly shaped campaign finance law. While upholding FECA's limits on contributions, the Court struck down limits on independent expenditures and on candidates' spending their own money, arguing that these restrictions violated the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech.

BCRA (2002)

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), also known as McCain-Feingold, aimed to address the issue of "soft money" – unregulated contributions to political parties. It banned national party committees from raising or spending soft money and placed restrictions on "issue ads" run by corporations and unions close to elections.

Citizens United and Beyond (2010 - Present)

The 21st century has seen a dramatic reshaping of campaign finance law, primarily driven by Supreme Court decisions.

• 2010: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: This landmark Supreme Court case struck down restrictions on independent expenditures by corporations and unions, arguing that these restrictions violated the First Amendment. This decision led to the rise of Super PACs and other independent expenditure groups, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose candidates.
• 2014: McCutcheon v. FEC: The Supreme Court struck down aggregate limits on individual contributions to candidates and political committees, further increasing the potential for wealthy donors to influence elections.

The landscape of campaign finance continues to evolve, with ongoing debates about the role of money in politics and the balance between free speech and the need to prevent corruption and undue influence.