Campaign finance reform

Campaign money in the U.S. system comes in two forms: hard money, which are direct contributions to political candidates, which must be declared with the name of the donor and are limited by federal caps; and soft money, which are contributions to political action committees, and are largely unlimited, though they cannot go directly into supporting a candidate, but rather into such elements as what are known as "position" ads, which are advertisements for a candidate's positions or thinly veiled attacks on the opponent.

Campaign finance reform was a major issue in the 2000 U.S. presidential election, especially with candidates John McCain and Ralph Nader.

Major organizations in favor of campaign finance reform include Common Cause[?].

In 2002, spurred by the collapse of Enron, a major contributor to politicians at all levels of the U.S. system, reformers in the House were able to pass campaign finance reform legislation over the objections of the Republican House leadership. The Senate then gained the requisite 60 votes to shut off debate (in fact, 68) and passed the House version of the bill 60-40 on March 20, 2002.

External links and references

• Campaign Bill Sent to Bush, and Its Foes Head to Court, The New York Times, March 21, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/21/politics/21DONA)
• News Analysis: The $2,000 Answer, The New York Times, March 21, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/21/politics/21ASSE)
• House Passes Campaign Finance Bill, The New York Times, February 14, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/14/politics/14DONA)
• How the House Voted, The New York Times, February 14, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/14/politics/14WIRE-ROLL)
• News Analysis: A Bid to Change, an Uncertain Future, The New York Times, February 14, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/14/politics/14ASSE)
• The Scene: Behind the Debate, the Jockeying for Advantage, The New York Times, February 14, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/14/politics/14SCEN)
• Gifts in State Judicial Races Are Up Sharply, The New York Times, February 14, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/14/politics/14JUDG)
• Excerpts From House Debate on the Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Bill, The New York Times, February 14, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/14/politics/14DTEX)
• www.realcampaignreform.org (http://www.realcampaignreform.org/)