Issue advocacy
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- See also: Express advocacy
Issue advocacy refers to political advertising focused on "broad political issues rather than specific candidates." It does not attempt to persuade the public of particular electoral outcomes, but rather seeks to highlight broader political or social issues. Issue advocacy is distinguished from express advocacy, which, as the term suggests, expressly and clearly supports or opposes a particular electoral outcome. Express advocacy advertisements include "for" or "against" statements. Candidate-supported advertisements, for instance, which expressly state whether to vote for or against a candidate, are by definition express advocacy. Advertisements focused on broader issues, which do not use express statements of support or opposition, are by definition issue advocacy.[1][2]
Background
The 1976 Buckley v. Valeo U.S. Supreme Court decision established two types of political advertising: express advocacy and issue advocacy. Express advocacy advertisements explicitly recommend election or defeat of a candidate. They are also subject to federal campaign regulations. Issue advocacy advertisements, on the other hand, educate voters on broader issues; they are not campaign-oriented.[1]
The Buckley decision established a test by which to judge whether political advertisements were express advocacy or issue advocacy by use of the so-called “magic words,” which are "clear expressions of support or opposition" for a particular electoral outcome.[1] Examples of clear expression or opposition include terms like “vote for,” “election,” "support,” "vote against,” “defeat” and "reject.” Advertisements avoiding those magic words are not considered express advocacy; rather, they are considered issue advocacy.[1][2]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Issue + advocacy"
See also
- Federal Election Commission
- Political action committee
- PACs and Super PACs
- Super PAC
- Buckley v. Valeo
- Express advocacy
External links
Footnotes