SCOTUS Comparison Practice FRQ/Citizens United
Use the excerpt provided below and your knowledge of AP Government Supreme Court cases to answer the questions provided.
In 2012, Shaun McCutcheon donated to the Republican National Committee, state and local Republican committees, and individual candidates. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act limited the aggregate (total) amount an individual could contribute during an election cycle. McCutcheon wanted to donate more than allowed under federal law. McCutcheon sued the Federal Election Commission arguing that the limits on the total amount of money an individual may donate during an election cycle violate the Constitution.
In McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of McCutcheon on the grounds that the aggregate spending limit forced donors to choose which candidates and issues they would be able to support during an election cycle.
Question 1
Identify the civil liberty that is common to both McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (2014) and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010).
PLEASE NOTE:
For the first SCOTUS comparison question, you should always be thinking about the key piece of the Constitution that was significant in the court case that you know (in this case, Citizens United.) What element/piece/clause/freedom/right/amendment was at stake? THAT IS THE ANSWER.
Though the task verb "identify" requires a simple answer, your response should still be written in a complete sentence.
Question 2
Explain how the facts in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and the facts in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission led to similar rulings.
PLEASE NOTE:
For full credit on the second SCOTUS comparison question, you should write at least two sentences.
This question asks you to analyze similarity OR difference between two SCOTUS cases - the one you know, and the one you just read about. How are they alike? Or, how are they different?
Sentence 1: Explain the facts of Citizens United. We have read about Citizens United, we have discussed Citizens United. What can you remember about the backstory, facts, and decision in the case?
Sentence 2: McCutcheon is a new Supreme Court case. We haven't talked about it, and you have never heard of it before, but they have provided you with a description at the top. For sentence 2, you need to summarize what you just read about McCutcheon. Please do not quote or copy words or phrases. Prove that you understand what you just read by explaining it in your own words.
Question 3
Describe the impact an interest group could have on a future election as a result of the Supreme Court's decisions in Citizens United and McCutcheon.
PLEASE NOTE:
This is always going to be the hardest question, because it asks you to make connections to larger trends/developments/elements in the AP Gov curriculum. Read the question carefully and then just see what you can come up with. Please note that the best responses for Question 3 may also provide an example. You should definitely have at least 2-3 complete sentences.
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