The money in political campaigns use to not come from a majority of private entities. Prior to corporate donations, politicians would receive funding through fundraising. This, however, proved to be a time-consuming process and politicians wouldn’t raise enough funds to get media attention. The article states, “ In 1976, Congress made minor changes to the public funding provisions and in 1979 and 1984 increased the public funding entitlement and spending limit for national nominating conventions.” This means that since 1976 congress as increase public funding for campaign elections. To sum up, the rich would donate funds to the politician.
How money in politics has to be now is when Citizens United fought for corporations and won in 2010. It granted corporations the First Amendment of the Constitution, allowing them to donate money to candidates. This article states, “this gives corporations a veto over our democratically enacted laws”. This can affect our regulation laws, which protect our food safety and health care. And in 1976 the Buckley vs. Valeo supreme court rule that corporation can spend unlimited amount of money in elections. This article states,“Citizens United, in practice, also opened the door to unlimited giving by individuals to “independent” campaign groups such as SuperPACs.” This shows us that SuperPACs are independent committees, they can raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals. SuperPACs has to report their donors to the FEC, but they can’t donate directly to the political candidates. This shows that the candidates can outbid their opponents if they become friends with corporations and wealthy individuals. Thus, our democracy has become an item for sale, the highest bidder gets to have our democracy.
When Citizens United was fighting the Federal Election Commission in March 24, 2009. Citizens hear of Citizens United trying to give corporations the first amendment, they opposed to the give a voice to corporations. The article states,“In the citizens United case, the court cast aside a 2003 decision, McConnell v. FEC, where the Court upheld the very provision it now ruled unconstitutional, and a 1990 decision, Austin v. Chamber of Commerce, where the Court had ruled that a Michigan law limiting corporate expenditures in elections did not violate the First Amendment.” This made the limiting of corporate influence illegal.