Which congressional act restricted the amount of money given to political parties, aiming to curtail influence from interest groups?

• A. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
• B. Federal Election Campaign Act
• C. Campaign Finance Reform Act
• D. McCain-Feingold Act

Answer: (A)

The idea here is campaign finance reform—limiting how much money can flow to political parties to reduce outside influence. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, commonly known as the McCain-Feingold Act, did exactly that by banning or restricting large “soft money” contributions to national party committees. Soft money could be donated in broad, party-building ways and often came from interest groups seeking influence; by capping these funds and increasing disclosure, the act reduced the ability of those groups to sway politics through party channels. This targeted approach to curb money flowing through parties is why this law fits the question best. The Federal Election Campaign Act was the earlier framework that established some limits, but it didn’t close soft-money loopholes as effectively.