LAW6880

This course will provide students with an in-depth review of federal and state campaign finance and election law. We will begin with a review of the Supreme Court decisions that have shaped the current status of federal election law, most notably Buckley v. Valeo. We will review other notable cases like McConnell, Austin, and Wisconsin Right to Life and will conclude with Citizens United. Also, the federal component will include an overview of the Federal Election Campaign Act and a review of the powers of the Federal Election Commission and a review of some of its notable advisory opinions.Additionally, a second portion of the class will be devoted to a review of Minnesota Statute Chapters 10A and 200-212, the corpus of Minnesota campaign finance and election law. We will review decisions by the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board and review decisions by the Minnesota Supreme Court, as well as those of the Minnesota Federal District Court interpreting Minnesota election law.