COM 107 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Motion Picture Association Of America Film Rating System, Jack Valenti, Dominick Fernow
Document Summary
Payment to government officials to influence elections and legislations has been defended on first amendment grounds. Now, monetary contributions now count as speech, and is therefore free. Ironically it started with congress trying to control the amount of money in elections. After watergate scandal in 1974, congress amended federal election law to further limit campaign contributions. Two years later, in buckley v. valeo, the supreme court suggested that political contributions count as speech. Every means of communicating ideas in today"s mass society requires funds. Citizens united v. fcc (2010) - it was a violation of the first amendment free speech rights for the federal government to limit outside entities from advertising through organize super pacs. The good intentions" behind the idea of limiting campaign spending (prevent super rich individuals from completely influencing all policy making) doesn"t justify ignoring the basic concepts of the first amendment. Those with limited means are at a clear disadvantage compared to those who have money.
