Search Results

open access

Campaign Finance: Constitutional and Legal Issues of Soft Money

Description: Prior to enactment of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), P.L. 107-155, the term “soft money” generally referred to unregulated funds, perceived as resulting from loopholes in the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), 2 U.S.C. §§ 431 et seq. Generally, the intent of BCRA, (effective Nov. 6, 2002), which amends FECA, is to restrict the raising and spending of soft money. This Issue Brief discusses constitutional and legal issues surrounding two major types of soft money that BCRA … more
Date: November 3, 2004
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Electoral College: An Overview and Analysis of Reform Proposals

Description: Following the closely contested presidential election of 2000, it is anticipated that Congress may revisit the issue of Electoral College reform. Although some reforms could be effected through federal or state statutes, most would require overcoming the considerable hurdles encountered by proposed constitutional amendments: two-thirds approval by both houses of Congress, followed by ratification by three-fourths (38) of the states, usually within a period of seven years.
Date: November 5, 2004
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige & Neale, Thomas H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Ukraine’s Presidential Elections and U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses Ukraine's presidential elections, held on October 31 and November 21, 2004. The report discusses the election's importance in Ukraine's political transition, the conduct of the elections, and the political crisis that emerged after the elections. It also addresses U.S. policy on the elections, and congressional action.
Date: December 1, 2004
Creator: Woehrel, Steven
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Campaign Financing: Highlights and Chronology of Current Federal Law

Description: This report summarizes major provisions of federal law and offers a chronology of key legislative and judicial actions which govern financial activity of federal election campaigns. The laws are based on two principal statutes: the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971, as amended in 1974, 1976, 1979, and 2002, and the Revenue Act of 1971.
Date: December 13, 2004
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iraq: Post-Saddam National Elections

Description: This report discusses United States and United Nations preparations for Iraq’s planned elections for a transitional National Assembly, scheduled for January 30, 2005. Elections preparations are significantly hindered by continuing insurgency and threats of a boycott by many of Iraq’s Sunni Arabs.
Date: December 16, 2004
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Campaign Financing

Description: This report discusses various issues regarding campaign finance law and potential options for policy responses.
Date: December 17, 2004
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Campaign Financing

Description: This is one report in the series of reports that discuss the campaign finance practices and related issues. Concerns over financing federal elections have become a seemingly perennial aspect of our political system, centered on the enduring issues of high campaign costs and reliance on interest groups for needed campaign funds. The report talks about the today’s paramount issues such as perceived loopholes in current law and the longstanding issues: overall costs, funding sources, and competi… more
Date: January 5, 2005
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Campaign Finance: Constitutional and Legal Issues of Soft Money

Description: Prior to enactment of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), P.L. 107-155, the term “soft money” generally referred to unregulated funds, perceived as resulting from loopholes in the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), 2 U.S.C. §§ 431 et seq. The general intent of BCRA, (effective November 6, 2002), which amends FECA, is to restrict the raising and spending of soft money. This Issue Brief discusses constitutional and legal issues surrounding two major types of soft money that BCRA… more
Date: January 10, 2005
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Political Organizations Under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code

Description: Political organizations have the primary purpose of influencing federal, state, or local elections and conducting similar activities. Those that qualify under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code are taxed only on a certain income. Under the Code, 527 organizations are subject to reporting requirements that involve registration, the periodic disclosure of contributions and expenditures, and the annual filing of tax returns. Section 527 organizations must also comply with applicable campaign… more
Date: January 11, 2005
Creator: Lunder, Erika
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Haiti: Developments and U.S. Policy Since 1991 and Current Congressional Concerns

Description: This report discusses the social and political development in Haiti and U.S. its relations with United States. Following elections that were widely heralded as the first free and fair elections in Haiti's then-186-year history, Jean-Bertrand Aristide first became Haitian President in February 1991.
Date: January 19, 2005
Creator: Taft-Morales, Maureen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Bringing Peace to Chechnya? Assessments and Implications

Description: Russia's then-Premier Vladimir Putin ordered military, police, and security forces to enter the breakaway Chechnya region in September 1999, and these forces occupied most of the region by early 2000. The conflict has resulted in thousands of military and civilian casualties and the massive destruction of housing and infrastructure. Putin's rise to power and continuing popularity have been tied at least partly to his perceived ability to prosecute this conflict successfully. This report detail… more
Date: February 11, 2005
Creator: Nichol, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iraq: Post-Saddam National Elections

Description: Elections for a transitional National Assembly, provincial councils, and a Kurdish regional assembly were held on January 30, 2005. High voter turnout in mostly Shiite and Kurdish areas led to a first and second-place finish for slates backed by these two communities. Sunni Arabs, dominant under Saddam Hussein, appear to have been further marginalized by their relative lack of participation in the vote. This report will be updated regularly. See CRS Report RL31339, Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Effo… more
Date: February 14, 2005
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Syria: Political Conditions and Relations with the United States After the Iraq War

Description: This report focuses on Syria’s internal politics and the impact of hostilities in Iraq on Syria’s stability and U.S.-Syrian relations. It outlines the development of the the regime currently headed by President Bashar al-Asad and its support base; describes potential challenges to the regime; examines the effect of the Iraq war on Syrian domestic politics and U.S.-Syrian relations; and reviews U.S. policy options toward Syria. It will be updated when significant changes take place and affect th… more
Date: February 28, 2005
Creator: Prados, Alfred B. & Sharp, Jeremy M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Campaign Financing

Description: This is one report in the series of reports that discuss the campaign finance practices and related issues. Concerns over financing federal elections have become a seemingly perennial aspect of our political system, centered on the enduring issues of high campaign costs and reliance on interest groups for needed campaign funds. The report talks about the today’s paramount issues such as perceived loopholes in current law and the longstanding issues: overall costs, funding sources, and competi… more
Date: March 8, 2005
Creator: Cantor, Joseph E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Moldova: Background and U.S. Policy

Description: This short report provides information and analysis on Moldova, including its political and economic situation, foreign policy, and on U.S. policy toward Moldova. For more background on Moldova, see CRS Report 95-403, Moldova: Basic Facts, by Steven Woehrel. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Date: March 8, 2005
Creator: Woehrel, Steven
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Afghanistan: Presidential and Parliamentary Elections

Description: Presidential elections in Afghanistan were held on October 9, 2004, with heavy turnout and minimal violence. Karzai was declared the winner on November 3, 2004 with about 55% of the vote, and he subsequently named a cabinet incorporating most major factions but stressing qualifications. Parliamentary, provincial, and district elections were to be held in April-May 2005, but they are now almost certain to be postponed until at least September 2005. See CRS Report RL30588, Afghanistan: Post-War G… more
Date: March 10, 2005
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iraq: Post-Saddam National Elections

Description: Elections for a transitional National Assembly, provincial councils, and a Kurdish regional assembly were held on January 30, 2005. High voter turnout in mostly Shiite and Kurdish areas led to a first and second-place finish for slates backed by these two communities; and they are negotiating what appears to be a fragile governing coalition. Sunni Arabs mostly boycotted. See CRS Report RL31339, Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance.
Date: March 11, 2005
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Campaign Finance: Constitutional and Legal Issues of Soft Money

Description: The term "soft money" generally refers to unregulated funds for election related activities that are not subject to the Federal Election Campaign Act's (FECA) source restrictions, contribution limits, and disclosure requirements. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which amended FECA and became effective on November 6, 2002, restricts the raising and spending of soft money. This report contains information on a summary of campaign financing, recent developments, background and analysis,… more
Date: March 31, 2005
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Ukraine’s Orange Revolution and U.S. Policy

Description: In January 2005, Viktor Yushchenko became Ukraine’s new President, after massive demonstrations helped to overturn the former regime’s electoral fraud, in what has been dubbed the “Orange Revolution,” after Yushchenko’s campaign color. The “Orange Revolution” has sparked a great deal of interest in Congress and elsewhere. This report examines the current political climate in Ukraine and policy issues for the U.S.
Date: April 1, 2005
Creator: Woehrel, Steven
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen