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To: Valin
Does the Constitution authorize funding of presidential campaigns? I thought that laws about elections were up to the state legislatures, along with other reserved powers.
9 posted on 01/13/2004 2:13:16 PM PST by The_Eaglet
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To: The_Eaglet
Does the Constitution authorize funding of presidential campaigns? I thought that laws about elections were up to the state legislatures, along with other reserved powers.

No, of course not. Nor does the Constitution authorize restrictions on campaign contributions and expenditures - even leaving aside the First Amendment problems with such restrictions. But Congress and the Supreme Court have long ignored restrictions on Congress's power except (and only in some cases) when something in the Bill of Rights or the 14th Amendment specifically limits them. The only power Congress has over elections is the power to determine the "time, place and manner" of holding elections - where, when, and how (i.e. single-member districts, maybe manner of voting, etc.)

But don't expect that to stop 'em.

11 posted on 01/13/2004 3:17:33 PM PST by Rensselaer
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