Campaign Finance | Elections 101

Main Objective

Students will develop a basic understanding of how candidates raise funds, what campaign contributions are spent on, the history of campaign finance reform, and the reasons for and against campaign reform.

Additional Objectives

be able to define campaign finance.
develop an understanding for campaign donations.
identify what candidates use their donations for.
analyze how campaign finance laws have changed over time.
debate if political contributions give undue influence to donors.
identify if campaign contribution limits violates free speech.

90

Minute Curriculum

Activities

An Introduction to Campaign Spending
A Lecture on Campaign Finance and Spending w/ Interactive Notes
Structured Academic Controversy in Campaign Finance

Materials

Download the 90-Minute Lesson Plan Here
Computer with Internet Access OR Student Internet Access
Campaign Spending Data
Campaign Finance PowerPoint
- Campaign Finance Interactive Notes
Structured Academic Controversy in Campaign Finance
Campaign Finance Strategy Assignment

Homework: Campaign Finance Strategy Assignment

60

Minute Curriculum

Activities

An Introduction to Campaign Spending
A Lecture on Campaign Finance and Spending w/ Interactive Notes
Structured Academic Controversy in Campaign Finance

Materials

Download the 60-Minute Lesson Plan Here
Computer with Internet Access OR Student Internet Access
Campaign Finance PowerPoint
- Campaign Finance Interactive Notes
Structured Academic Controversy in Campaign Finance
Campaign Finance Strategy Assignment

Homework: Campaign Finance Strategy Assignment

30

Minute Curriculum

Activities

An Introduction to Campaign Spending
A Lecture on Campaign Finance and Spending w/ Interactive Notes
Structured Academic Controversy in Campaign Finance

Materials

Download the 30-Minute Lesson Plan Here
Computer with Internet Access OR Student Internet Access
Campaign Finance PowerPoint
- Campaign Finance Interactive Notes
Campaign Finance Strategy Assignment

Homework: Campaign Finance Strategy Assignment

Standards

Iowa Core: SS.9-12.PSCL.1: Understand the rights and responsibilities of each citizen and demonstrate the values of lifelong civic action.
Iowa Core: SS.9-12.PSCL.5: Understand strategies for effective political action that impact local, state, and national governance.
Iowa Core: SS.9-12.H.2: Understand how and why people create, maintain or change systems of power, authority, and governance.
Iowa Core: WHST.11-12.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
Iowa Core: RH.11-12.7: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.
Iowa Core: RH.11-12.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.