Simone Lawson
Getting involved in a political campaign can be a rewarding experience, offering a unique insight into the democratic process and the chance to develop a range of skills. While campaign work is demanding and often lacks long-term stability, it can lead to government employment and provide valuable connections. For students, taking a gap semester can be a great way to gain campaign experience, although it's important to consider your personal and financial situation first. Networking is crucial to landing a campaign role, and you can start by cultivating connections and showcase your willingness to work hard. Volunteering is another way to get involved, allowing you to support a candidate or cause without giving up your day job, and there are specific guidelines for volunteers to engage in campaign activities within the law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Campaign work offers the opportunity to | Develop and refine a wide range of skills |
| Gain a unique perspective into the electoral process | |
| Understand the concerns of elected officials and the public | |
| Campaign work can lead to | Government employment |
| Campaign work may not be for everyone as there is | Little formal mentoring |
| Little structured feedback | |
| Little administrative support | |
| Little free time | |
| Little long-term stability | |
| To get a job in the political field, | Networking is crucial |
| A spot on a campaign is rarely secured through the cover letter and interview process alone | |
| Campaign jobs may be | Entry-level positions with little immediate monetary reward |
| Campaign work can provide | Connections that will pay off later in your career |
| Campaign housing with supporters | |
| Access to a campaign vehicle | |
| Reimbursement for travel expenses | |
| Students can | Take a gap semester to get involved in campaign work |
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What You'll Learn
- Volunteering for a campaign: Individuals can volunteer for a political campaign, influencing elections without restrictions
- Campaign jobs: Campaign jobs are often posted on job boards, but networking is crucial to securing a position
- Student opportunities: Students can take a gap semester to gain campaign experience, or engage in political law and election law
- Campaign finances: Understand campaign finance laws and limits on expenses, reimbursements, and contributions
- Independent expenditures: Individuals or groups can support or oppose candidates by making independent expenditures, which are not subject to contribution limits
Volunteering for a campaign: Individuals can volunteer for a political campaign, influencing elections without restrictions
Volunteering for a political campaign can be a rewarding experience, offering a unique perspective on the democratic process and providing an opportunity to develop a range of skills. Individuals can get involved in various ways without needing legal experience or a specific degree.
One way to participate is by volunteering for a campaign. Individuals can volunteer their time and skills to support a candidate or cause they believe in. This can be done alongside a day job or studies, with some campaigns offering flexible opportunities such as volunteering during election periods or taking a gap semester. Volunteers may engage in activities like phone banking, door-to-door canvassing, distributing campaign materials, or utilizing their professional skills, such as legal or marketing expertise.
Volunteering can provide valuable connections and experiences that may benefit future career aspirations, especially in politics or political law. It is a chance to network and build relationships with like-minded individuals and organizations. Some campaigns may also offer support to their volunteers, such as campaign housing or covering travel expenses for certain roles.
It is important to note that individuals can engage in specific activities without restrictions when volunteering for a federal campaign. According to the Federal Election Campaign Act, uncompensated individuals can use the internet to influence a federal election freely. This includes activities such as sending unlimited emails, creating and maintaining websites, and sharing hyperlinks. However, any reimbursement for facilities or expenses may be considered a contribution to the campaign and must be reported accordingly.
Additionally, individuals who are employees, stockholders, or members of a corporation or labor union can use the organization's facilities for their volunteer activities, as long as it does not interfere with their regular work or the organization's normal activities. This "incidental use" is typically limited to one hour per week or four hours per month. Furthermore, volunteers can use community spaces, such as church or community rooms, for campaign activities as long as these spaces are regularly used for non-commercial purposes by community members, regardless of their political affiliation.
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Campaign jobs: Campaign jobs are often posted on job boards, but networking is crucial to securing a position
Campaign jobs are often posted on online job boards, but networking is crucial to securing a position. Even if you don't have inside connections, these can be surprisingly simple to cultivate. A spot on a campaign is rarely secured through the cover letter and interview process alone. Instead, someone you know will get in touch with someone they know to get the ball rolling. If you don't know anyone currently working on a particular campaign, reach out to campaign alumni; many campaign workers are repeat players, and if a friend has worked on a campaign before, they may know someone now working on the campaign that has caught your interest. Use your college or law school alumni connections. Identify alumni working on campaigns or otherwise affiliated with partisan work (i.e., groups such as the National Republican Senatorial Committee or Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee).
If you are a student, consider taking a gap semester to get involved in a campaign. Before taking a gap semester, take some time to consider your personal, professional, and financial situation, as well as the possibilities that are available to you. Working on a campaign can be a unique and rewarding experience, offering the opportunity to develop and refine a wide assortment of skills in an extremely fast-paced and flexible environment. It can also give you a unique perspective on the electoral process and the concerns of elected officials and the public. Campaign work can often lead directly or indirectly to government employment down the road.
If geography is a concern, you may want to consider where a candidate is based and whether you want to work at their campaign headquarters or take on a more mobile role, like field organizing or advance work, in a particular campaign state. The candidate's popularity may also be a consideration, as the most popular candidates are also likely to foster the most competitive environments for job-seeking. For example, it may be easier to secure a more prominent position with a candidate other than the frontrunner.
Few people take entry-level campaign positions for the immediate monetary rewards. Most realize that working for free will provide them with connections that will pay off later in their career, especially if they have political aspirations. Some campaigns provide different forms of support for their volunteers, which can cut down on living costs. For example, you may not have to pay rent if you can arrange campaign housing with supporters. Additionally, depending on your role, you might have access to a campaign vehicle, and certain jobs, such as advance work, will cover travelling expenses.
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Student opportunities: Students can take a gap semester to gain campaign experience, or engage in political law and election law
Students have a variety of opportunities to get involved in political campaigns and gain experience in political and election law. One option is to take a gap semester to dedicate time to campaign work. This can provide a unique and rewarding experience, allowing students to immerse themselves in the campaign environment and develop a range of skills. Before making this decision, students should carefully consider their personal, professional, and financial circumstances, as well as the potential opportunities available to them.
During a gap semester, students can explore various campaign roles, such as independent consultants or volunteers. While these positions may not offer immediate monetary benefits, they provide valuable connections and experiences that can enhance future career prospects, especially for those interested in politics or political law. Students can also take advantage of resources like the Gap Year Association (GYA), a nonprofit community that supports gap year students and provides access to relevant advice, resources, and professional development opportunities.
Another option for students is to engage in political and election law through academic programs and internships. For instance, students can pursue a minor in law and politics, which typically involves around 15 credits of courses focused on these areas. Additionally, pre-law certificates are available to undergraduate students, offering preparation for law school and careers in politics and public service. Students can also gain practical experience through internships with political campaigns, government agencies, public service organizations, and law offices, allowing them to earn academic credits while applying their knowledge in real-world settings.
For those specifically interested in election law, the Election Law Program (ELP) at William & Mary Law School offers a range of opportunities. The ELP works closely with the William & Mary Election Law Society to host speaker series, symposiums, and other events that engage students in election law topics. Students can also get involved with election law research, local elections, and long-term projects aimed at creating comprehensive resources on election laws and regulations for judges and other legal professionals.
Furthermore, students can explore opportunities within their academic institutions and communities. Many universities offer student clubs, organizations, and community engagement initiatives that provide a platform for political discussion and positive change. For example, College Democrats and College Republicans are student organizations that allow individuals to learn about and discuss key democratic issues, fostering a sense of political engagement and awareness. These avenues enable students to develop their political interests and network with like-minded individuals.
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Campaign finances: Understand campaign finance laws and limits on expenses, reimbursements, and contributions
Campaign finances are a highly regulated aspect of political campaigns, with laws and limits in place to ensure fairness and transparency. These regulations cover areas such as campaign contributions, expenditures, reimbursements, and public funding. Understanding these laws is crucial for anyone involved in a political campaign to ensure compliance and avoid legal issues. Here are some key aspects of campaign finance laws and limits:
Contribution Limits:
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces contribution limits, which vary depending on the type of contribution and the recipient. For individuals, there are limits on the amount of money they can contribute to a candidate or political organization. These limits are typically higher for contributions to political parties than to individual candidates. It's important to note that contributions to certain funds, such as the General Election Legal and Compliance (GELAC) fund, are also subject to per-candidate and per-election limits.
Limits on Expenditures:
Expenditures made on behalf of a candidate are typically limited to a specific amount per election, while expenditures on behalf of a political party may have an annual limit. Any amount spent exceeding these limits is considered a contribution to the candidate or party committee. Independent expenditures, which are not coordinated with a campaign or political party, may have different rules and are often not subject to contribution limits. However, they may be subject to reporting requirements and must include a disclaimer notice.
Reimbursements:
Reimbursements play a crucial role in campaign finances. For example, individuals who use their organization's facilities or equipment for campaign activities may need to reimburse the organization. Any reimbursement for the use of facilities is considered a contribution to the benefiting political committee. Additionally, campaigns must adopt accounting systems to distinguish between contributions made for different types of elections, such as primary and general elections, and handle refunds or redesignations accordingly.
Public Funding and Matching Programs:
Public financing is available for qualifying candidates for President of the United States during primaries and general elections. These candidates are usually subject to spending limits. Some states also allow varying levels of corporate and union contributions. To address the influence of large donors, reformers have proposed encouraging "small donor public financing," where public funds are used to match and multiply small donations.
Political Action Committees (PACs):
PACs are committees that make contributions to federal political committees. There are different types of PACs, including connected and nonconnected PACs, with specific rules for each. Super PACs, also known as "independent-expenditure-only committees," can raise unlimited funds from various sources without legal limits, as long as they operate correctly and disclose their donors. However, they cannot make direct contributions to candidate campaigns or parties and must conduct their political spending independently.
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Independent expenditures: Individuals or groups can support or oppose candidates by making independent expenditures, which are not subject to contribution limits
Getting involved in a political campaign can be a rewarding experience, offering a unique perspective on the democratic process and the chance to develop valuable skills. For those interested in influencing a campaign without directly joining the campaign team, independent expenditures are a powerful option.
Independent Expenditures:
Independent expenditures are a way for individuals or groups to support or oppose political candidates. They are expenditures for communications that explicitly advocate for the election or defeat of a specific candidate. These expenditures are not made in coordination with any candidate, their campaign, or a political party committee. This means that the individual or group making the expenditure maintains independence from the candidate and their campaign.
Key Points to Note:
- Independent expenditures are not subject to contribution limits. This means that individuals or groups can spend unlimited amounts to support or oppose a candidate. However, they may be subject to reporting requirements, and any reimbursement for the use of facilities is considered a contribution.
- A disclaimer is required for all independent expenditures. This disclaimer must identify who paid for the communication and indicate whether it was authorized by any candidate or committee. The disclaimer must include the full name, permanent street address, telephone number, or website address of the individual or group, along with a statement that the communication was not authorized by any candidate or committee.
- The concept of independent expenditures is shaped by the legal framework regulating campaign finance and preserving free speech. The Supreme Court's Citizens United vs. The Federal Election Commission decision in 2010 is particularly influential, holding that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations, associations, and labor unions.
- Independent expenditure campaigns typically involve forming a committee, often a Political Action Committee (PAC), that engages in fundraising efforts. After raising funds, the committee can invest in marketing content and advertising across various platforms, including social media, websites, TV, streaming services, email, direct mail, and print ads.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to get involved in a political campaign. You can volunteer for a campaign, engage in political activities online, or make independent expenditures to support or oppose a candidate. You can also reach out to your network to explore job opportunities within a campaign.
Independent expenditures are expenses incurred for communications that advocate for the election or defeat of a specific candidate. These expenditures are not made in coordination with any campaign, candidate, or political party committee. They are not subject to contribution limits but may be subject to reporting requirements.
Yes, the Federal Election Campaign Act prohibits foreign nationals from participating in election-related decisions or management. However, foreign nationals can attend committee events and campaign strategy meetings as volunteers.
Yes, taking a gap semester or a break from your career can be a great way to gain experience in political campaigns. Campaign work can be demanding and time-consuming, so taking a break can provide the flexibility needed to engage in a campaign fully. Additionally, campaign work can lead to valuable connections and even government employment down the road.
