What is a core feature of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002?

The Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002, commonly known as the McCain-Feingold Act, aimed to address issues related to campaign finance practices that were viewed as corrupting the electoral process. A core feature of this legislation was its prohibition of soft money contributions to national political parties. Soft money refers to unregulated contributions that were previously allowed to be used for party-building activities rather than directly for candidate campaigns. By prohibiting these contributions, the act sought to limit the influence of large donations on political campaigns and ensure greater transparency and accountability in the financing of elections. This effort was part of a broader attempt to reduce the impact of money on politics and promote fairer electoral competition.

The other options refer to aspects that do not align with the primary goals and provisions of the act. For example, the creation of Super PACs occurred after the law and in response to court decisions that allowed for greater independent expenditure by organizations. Limiting contributions was a central focus rather than eliminating all contribution limits, and foreign donations were already restricted by previous laws. Thus, the prohibition of soft money contributions is distinctly recognized as a fundamental feature of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002.