Do corporate PACs or Labor PACs spend more money in congressional elections?

1. How accurate was your prediction?

2. What trend do you see in the chart above?

3. Why do you think that is?

4. What is one consequence of this trend?

5. Is this good news?

6. What do PACs do, anyway?

7. And just what is the relationship between PACs and interest groups?

8. Explain whether PACs have a generally positive impact on democracy.

9. What specifically does the U.S. Constitution say about PACs?

10. Over the past century, What has happened to the percentage of American workers in unions?*

11. How do you think this Trend has impacted American politics?

12. What is one policy labor unions would likely support that corporate groups would oppose?

13. Explain which party labor PACs are most likely to support.*

14. What were the five biggest PACs in the last election cycle?*

15. Explain whether politicians who are politicos, trustees, or delegates are more likely to respond to the requests of PACs.

16. Describe how taking money from a PAC could impact a politician’s political campaign and their likelihood of election.

17. Imagine that the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawed PACs. How would that impact American politics?
    

Visual Extension*

Learning Extension

Read The Brookings Institute’s report on PAC giving.

Action Extension

Contact YOUR U.S. Representative and ask them what PACs they take money from and how it influences their voting? Share their response in class or online.

Our World In Data Extension

Our Animals in Clothes Extension