Campaign finance reforms had which of the following effects?

• A. Required candidates to raise money from many small donors.
• B. Required donations to be reported to the FEC.
• C. Made the media more powerful in elections.
• D. All of these choices are true.

Answer: (D)

Campaign finance reforms aimed to bring money into the open, broaden who can fund campaigns, and shape how campaigns reach voters. Requiring donations and expenditures to be reported to the Federal Election Commission creates public records, increasing transparency and accountability about who is funding campaigns. The rules also encourage campaigns to build broad support from many individuals, especially since public-financing programs and contribution limits favor widespread small donations over dependence on a few large donors. With fundraising more regulated and donors scrutinized, campaigns commonly rely more on mass media—advertising and earned media—to communicate messages and mobilize voters, making the media’s role more influential in elections. Put together, these effects reflect how reforms changed funding, disclosure, and strategy, so all of the choices are true.