Campaign Financing

Term Paper # 99152

Political Science > Election and Campaigns
Political Science > U.S.

Campaign Financing

The paper explores the limitations on campaign financing in the US Congress.

1,154 words () | 7 sources | MLA | 2004 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains campaign financing and the federal and state levels of campaigning funds. The paper discusses the finance reform laws that prohibit "soft money" and place restrictions on contributions. The paper relates that if the current trend continues, eventually congressional financing will be so regulated that even an ordinary citizen will be able to run for a seat in congress.

From the Paper:

"It is said "Campaign financing in Congress has become so scandalous that is gives the wealthy in Congress inordinate influence, while ordinary citizens are virtually excluded from a meaningful role." It is true that Congress relies heavily on finances in order to maintain/achieve incumbency, however there are many financial restriction regarding campaign finances. Finance reform laws now prohibit the use of "soft money" (money obtain outside the restrictions of federal law). This soft money restriction came about with the passage of the Shay's- Meehan Campaign Finance Reform Law. However, there are restrictions on individual contributions, as established in the out come of the Buckley v. Valeo case. These restrictions have limited the effect of campaign spending on voters, and created little negative impact (aside from a lack of money) on the Congress as a whole."

Sample of Sources Used:

Appendix 4: "Brief History" On-line. Internet. http://www.fec.gov/info/appfour.html
"Buckley v. Valeo" Buckley v. Valeo (1976). On-line. Internet. www.oyez/resource/case/57/
OMB Watch "McCain-Feingold." Online. Internet. http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/231/1/3/
Opensecrets.org "Buckley v. Valeo." On-line. Internet. http://www.opensecrets.org/pubs/reform/reform5.html.
Samples, John. "The Beginning of the End of McCain-Feingold"Article March 17, 2004 www.cato.org/dailys/03-17-04.html