
In 2015, Well Over Half Of The Money Contributed To The Presidential Race Came From Roughly 350 Families. The 100 Biggest Donors Gave As Much As 2 Million Small Donors Combined. Can We Still Say We Live In A Democracy If A Few Hundred Rich Families Provide A Disproportionate Shares Of Campaign Funds? Congress And The Courts Are Divided On That Question, With Conservatives Saying Yes And Liberals Saying No. The Debate Is About The Most Fundamental Of Political Questions: How We Define Democracy And How We Want Our Democracy To Work. The Debate May Ultimately Be About Political Theory, But In Practice It Is Conducted In Terms Of Laws, Regulations, And Court Decisions About Super Pacs, 527s, 501(c)(4)s, Dark Money, Small Donors, Public Funding, Corporate Contributions, The Federal Election Commission, And The Irs. Campaign Finance: What Everyone Needs To Know® Explains Those Laws, Regulations, And Supreme Court Decisions, From Buckley V. Valeo To Citizens United, Asking How They Fit Into The Larger Discussion About How We Want Our Democracy To Work.
This book investigates whether a political system can function as a true democracy when a small number of wealthy donors provide a disproportionate share of campaign funding. Robert E. Mutch, a scholar of American political history, utilizes legal analysis and historical context to examine the evolution of campaign finance regulations. He argues that the current landscape of political spending is not merely a matter of policy, but a fundamental conflict over the definition and operation of American democracy.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts and readers identify this work as a highly accessible primer for understanding the complex legal framework governing American elections. The text is frequently cited for its ability to distill dense regulatory information into a clear, objective overview for students and general readers alike.
Page Count:
192
Publication Date:
2016-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190274700
ISBN-13:
9780190274702
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!