Money Matters - Consequences of Campaign Finance Reform in House Elections

Methods of campaign financing have been controversial since George Washington first ran for office, and debates over campaign finance reform have raged just as long. Contemporary critics of reform often contend that it would decrease electoral competition, voter turnout, and the amount of information voters receive about candidates. Money Matters subjects these criticisms to careful, systemic analysis-using simulations, aggregate vote analyses, and individual-level data analyses based on House elections-and concludes that reform, with modest public subsidies and spending limits, would enhance rather than diminish the U.S. system of democratic governance.

List of contents

Chapter 1 Introducing Campaign Finance Reform Chapter 2 A Brief History of Campaign Finance and Campaign Finance Reform Chapter 3 Excessive Spending, Candidate Viability, and Free Speech Chapter 4 Electoral Competition and Campaign Finance Reform Chapter 5 The Question of Voter Turnout, Part I Chapter 6 The Question of Voter Turnout, Part II Chapter 7 Democracy and Citizen Involvement: Campaign Spending and Cognitive Engagement Chapter 8 FECA's Loopholes: Soft Money, Independent Expenditures, and Issue Advocacy Campaigns Chapter 9 Improving the Electoral Process through Campaign Finance Reform

About the author

Robert K. Goidel is assistant professor of political science at Indiana State University. Donald A. Gross is associate professor of political science at the University of Kentucky. Todd G. Shields is assistant professor of political science at the University of Arkansas.

Summary

Methods of campaign financing by US political parties have been controversial since George Washington first ran for office. Critics of reform argue that it would decrease electoral turnout and the amount of information voters receive about candidates. This text analyzes these criticisms.

Product details

• Authors: Robert Goidel, Robert K Goidel, Robert K. Goidel, Goidel Robert K., Donald Gross, Donald A Gross, Donald A. Gross, Todd Shields, Todd G Shields, Todd G. Shields
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 15.04.1999
• EAN: 9780847688685
• ISBN: 978-0-8476-8868-5
• Dimensions: 147 mm x 229 mm x 13 mm
• Weight: 308 g
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; USA, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Accounting / General, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Finance / General, United States of America, USA, Finance & accounting, Elections & referenda, Finance and accounting, Elections and referenda / suffrage