Abstract
This paper explores the ramifications of party funding by business and Political Action Committees through an investigation into the Supreme Court's revocation of the FDA's right to regulate the tobacco industry. It explores the historical involvement of the FDA with the industry, through to the stances taken by the Democratic and the Republican parties after revocation. It investigates the reasons behind Big Tobacco funding the Republican party, and the Trial Lawyers' PAC contributing so heavily to the Democratic coffers in the 2000 presidential campaign.

From the Paper
"It is a sad fact that less than 50% of Americans vote. The reasons behind this non-participation are myriad, ranging from the view that traditional parties are out of touch with the needs of modern-day society, to the inconvenience of attending mid-week daytime voting stations. One common complaint is the effect of party funding by big business and by Political Action Committees, since the practice implies that money rather than votes wields political influence."

Tags:campaign, finance, funding, lawyer, reform, smoking, tobacco, trial

Abstract
This is a 10-page paper on PAC's and describes the action and need of PAC's in America. It also argues that they are needed and presents views against in a complete research paper.

From the Paper
"With the advent of the information age, and with the virtual necessity of the use of these new media to disseminate information, elections are becoming ever more costly. The 1982 election, an off-year election, cost over $240 Million to conduct. Politicians are scurrying to find new funding sources. A recent trend has been the increase in the proportion of election expenses covered by Political Action Committees, or PACs. These groups represent a group of people with common interests who "want to advance a specific political agenda by contributing to candidates who share their views." PACs are a potent financial tool in elections. The sources of PAC money are manifold and multifarious; many types of PACs exist. As a corollary, many have called into question whether high campaign contributors indeed influence the policies of the candidate in their favor. Further, with the abundance of soft money, campaign contributions are becoming ever more difficult to track or to regulate."

Tags:action, campaign, committee, government, political

Abstract
This paper details the roles of lobbying, campaign contributions, political action committees and the role of personal influence in the political arena. Specifically, the paper looks at how corporations use these areas to influence government. A study of lobby and contribution expenditures of 1998 is done as well as brief historical perspectives on PACs and personal influence. It is concluded that if the present trends continue, corporate America will, in effect, own the U. S. government lock, stock and barrel.

Abstract
An analysis of the pro choice and pro life debate that focuses on the organizations lobbying for and against abortion rights and their political action committees.

From the Paper
"This paper will briefly analyze the abortion debate by focusing on the main groups lobbying for pro choice and pro life policies. In doing so, we will evaluate the role that Political Action Committees (PAC's) play in influencing the government and voters to engender policies affecting abortion. The main pro choice lobbying organization is the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) which since the Supreme Court ruling "Roe v. Wade" which protected a woman's right to an abortion, goes by the name NARAL Pro-Choice America."

Tags:abortion, pro choice, pro life, lobbying, pacs, funding, policy

Abstract
In 2004, John M. McHugh won the race for representation of the 23rd District of the State of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives. This paper analyzes McHugh's campaign finance record, particularly with respect to the 2004 election. The paper also analyzes the contributions of specific Political Action Committees (PACs).

From the Paper
"The trends in McHugh's fundraising record show that the majority of his money comes from PACs, but a substantial amount also comes from individuals. Also, in the first two House election cycles in which he ran, he raised substantially less money than he did in later years. I propose that this is due to the fact that as time went on, he became better established both in Washington and as a liaison to his district. His establishment within Washington and within his district allowed him to raise more money than his challenger, and this is why, in short, he prospered at the polls (Mann 75)."

Tags:jacobson, mann, milyo, politics

Abstract
This paper discusses the various roles played by interest groups in influencing government decision making. It further describes the methods and techniques of interest groups. The types of interest groups and political action committees (PAC's) are also detailed.

From the Paper
"This report examined various theories of interest groups, presents a conceptualization of such groups, describes their methods and techniques for garnering support and explicates their functions vis a vis the planning cycle for policy making. Drawing on the literature, the report identifies financial contributions as a key influence strategy used by both insider and outsider or direct and indirect interest groups. The report details the ways in which various types of such groups mobilize resources and attract support for their cause. "

Tags:interest groups, policymaking, best practices, government, lobby, PAC, NRA

Abstract
This paper examines how, in his book, "The Buying of the President 2004: Who's Really Bankrolling Bush and His Democratic Challengers and What They Expect in Return", Charles Lewis investigates the influence of financial interests in the United States political system. It looks at how he carefully argues that financial interests are now the most powerful influence in American politics, replacing the voting public, and how Lewis's careful and painstaking research lends credibility to his argument that political action committees (PACs) play a crucial role in influencing the politics of Republicans and Democrats alike.

From the Paper
"Lewis wrote the book in order to provide the American public with an understanding of how the political system and financial interests are intertwined in today's political landscape. A former journalist, Lewis purports to be non-partisan, and indeed his book contains scathing indictments of both Republican and Democratic political players. Within The Buying of the President 2004, Lewis investigates such major players as John Kerry and incumbent President George Bush, giving both personal histories of the candidates and an overview of their campaign finances. Further, Lewis is unflinching in revealing the extent to which big business has financed President George W. Bush and the Republicans, and notes perhaps surprisingly that News Corp (owners of Fox News Channel) is one of the Democrat's top 50 donors in the last 25 years."

Tags:republicans, democrats, kerry

Abstract
Examines the effect of contributions of the tobacco lobby on the 2000 presidential campaign and election. Discusses national and local campaign finance laws, Political Action Committees (PACs), the issue of soft money, and the leading tobacco contributors with the most monetary gains.

From the Paper
"This research analyzes the effect of the contributions of the tobacco on the presidential campaign and election. The following section covers the underlying policy issue, which is followed..."

Abstract
The writer asserts that corporations give a significant amount of their money to politicians and spend an even greater amount of money trying to persuade these politicians to vote in a manner favorable to the corporation's cause. These contributions, Political Action Committees and personal influence, explains the author, are the avenues the paper presents for corporations to influence the government.
Table of Contents:
Review of Literature
Methodology and Theoretical Orientation
Corporate Influence on Congress
PACs and Campaign Contributions
The "Good Ole Boy" System
Corporate Responsibility
A Study of 1998
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Political Action Committees are one main source of corporate campaign contributions. In 1943, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) formed the CIO-PAC to collect and disperse voluntary political contributions from union members. It wasn't until the 1970s that PACs were legitimized. Limits on campaign contributions from individual PACs caused the number of registered PACs to increase from 608 to 4200 by the end of the 1980s (Godwin 87). PACs use a number of methods to solicite funds from the public including union campaigns and direct mail techniques. They can then contribute to the campaigns of agreeable politicians. Corporate PACs contribute funds from one or several corporations, giving corporations another avenue with which to control the political arena. A survey conducted in 1984 showed that 68% of corporations that had their own lobbying force in D.C also contributed to Political Action Committees (Wright 418)."

Tags:influence, power, contributions, lobby, congress