POLS 125 Chapter Notes - Chapter NA: Faulty Assumptions and Undemocratic Consequences of CFR: Campaign Finance Reform In The United States, Martin Van Buren, Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act

• School: University of Vermont
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 125
• Professor: Deborah Lynn Guber

Document Summary

Faulty assumptions and undemocratic consequences of cfr (1996) For the past 25 years efforts to reform the campaign finance system have been popular with the general public and legal academics: this essay argues that the basic assumptions of campaign finance reform are incorrect. It is actually campaign finance regulation that is in conflict with accepted notions of equality. The agenda of the campaign finance reform movement has been to: lower the cost of campaigning, reduce the influence of special interests in elections and the legislative process, open up the political system to change. Reformers have sought to accomplish these goals through campaign contributions and expenditure limits as well as public funding of campaigns. At the core of campaign finance reform are faulty assumptions that are irretrievably flawed: reform proposals favor certain political elites, support the status quo and discourage grassroots political activity.