The Price of Power
Open Secrets: Center for Responsive Politics
Critical Analysis
How often did the top spending House candidate win election to the U.S. Congress in 2016?
Identify two trends from the chart.
What do you think best explains those trends?
Describe the influence of money on American politics.
Why do you think money matters more in House than Senate races?
My friend, Maeve claims, “the person with the most money should win the election, because candidates with better ideas raise more money. And if a candidate can’t raise much money, it’s because they don’t have very good ideas.” How would you respond to this claim?
My friend Otis claims that this chart proves that America is not actually a democracy (based on equal political power) but is really a plutocracy (by for and of the rich). What do you think of Otis’ claim?
My friend Rahim says that the Framers never once used the word “democracy” in the Constitution or in the Declaration of Independence and that they would not be the least bit upset about the data from the chart.
Describe how the typical conservative and liberal would explain the trend from the data.
Imagine that a politician took a moral stand and refused to spend money on the election. How would that impact their chances of winning?
Describe a step the federal government could take to limit the power of money in elections?
Explain why it is unlikely that Congress would pass and the president signs a law taking that step?
Learning Extension
Read 10 Things Every Voter Should Know.
Action Extension
Register to vote before it’s too late. If you are already registered or ineligible to vote, help register someone who is eligible to vote.
Visual Extension
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