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What is the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Act of 2002?
 
What is soft money and why is it being regulated?
 
What are electioneering communications?
 
What are the First Amendment concerns raised by the new campaign-finance law?
 
How do campaign-finance law supporters respond to the First Amendment issues raised?
 
 

Those who like the new law say it merely restores the political landscape to the way it was a decade ago, before the use of soft money and electioneering ads became so widespread. In a recent position paper, Brookings Institution scholars Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein also insist that “no speech is banned by the new law — not a single ad nor any word or combination of words would be muzzled.” Only the source of the funds and the disclosure of the source are affected by the law, they say. In addition, supporters argue that the importance of curbing corruption in the political system outweighs any infringement on expression the law might impose.

 
 
How have the courts assessed the BCRA?
 
How did the Supreme Court handle the case?
 
How did the Supreme Court rule on the BCRA?
 
Why is judicial campaign speech treated differently from other types of campaign speech?
 
I work with a political committee. Am I required to put a disclaimer on e-mails or on our Web site?
 
May I send an e-mail to a friend about a political topic or federal election without worrying about a disclaimer?
 
May I create my own personal political blog? May I post to another’s political blog?
 
What if I pay to place a political ad on someone else’s Web page? Would I be subject to any rules and regulations?
 
The company I work for provides commercial services online. May we provide our services to political committees and candidates?
 
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Last system update: Friday, May 24, 2013 | 14:50:34
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