Campaign finance refers to the fundraising and spending that political campaigns do in their election races. As campaigns have many expenditures, ranging from the cost of travel for the candidate and others to the purchasing of air time for TV advertisements, candidates often devote substantial time and effort raising money to finance campaigns.

Although the political science literature indicates that most contributors give to support candidates with whom they are already in agreement, there is wide public perception that donors expect illegitimate government favors in return. (such as specific legislation being enacted or defeated) so some have come to equate campaign finance with political corruption and bribery. These views have led some governments to reform fundraising sources and techniques in the hope of eliminating perceived undue influence being given to monied interests. Another tactic is for the government, rather than private individuals and organizations, to provide funding for campaigns.

Democratic countries have differing regulations on what types of donations to political parties and campaigns are acceptable.

The causes and effects of different campaign finance rules are studied in a number of disciplines including political science, economics and public policy.

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Wed Jun 24 09:28:31 2009

019 campaign finance disclosure bill jpg
legislatorcooper.com
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Legislator Jon Cooper joined County Executive Steve Levy and members of Suffolk County s Campaign Finance Board to announce the implementation of their new electronic filing program

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congressional sessions He has opened up deep rifts with his Republican Senate brethren all in the name of ripping special interest money and influence out of the democratic process He and Russell Feingold the mild mannered Democratic senator from Wisconsin have tried time and again to get their bill to reform the finance system through the Senate Despite their

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Lt Governor Sullivan stands with leadership of the House and Senate to endorse a campaign finance reform plan for

From Yahoo Image Search: "campaign finance"
Sun Jul 12 04:23:31 2009

 Campaign finance spotlight: Top 5 donor lists for 2008 DFL and ...
politicsinminnesota.com
Campaign finance spotlight: Top 5 donor lists for 2008 DFL and ...

Steve Perry

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:27:36 GM

Politics in Minnesota: Minnesota's Public Affairs News Service, provides daily Morning Reports with statewide political news, and Weekly Reports with insider news and analysis.

Kausfiles : Wellstone's Curse: Undoing the Right Thing
slate.com
Kausfiles : Wellstone's Curse: Undoing the Right Thing

Mickey Kaus

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:17:00 GM

Rick Hasen worries that the Supreme Court appears ready to strike down, on free speech grounds, a large chunk of the McCain-Feingold​ . campaign finance. law--the part that bans corporate funding of election season broadcast ads.

GlfBook - Financial News Daily Blog Archive Court signals ...
glfbook.com
GlfBook - Financial News Daily Blog Archive Court signals ...

admin

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:34:53 GM

Court signals review of . campaign finance. laws, raising stakes in Posted by: admin In: . Finance. | Stock Market. Court raises stakes in anti-Hillary movieWashington​ The Supreme Court signaled Monday that it could overturn decades-old ...

From Google Blog Search: "campaign finance"
Sun Jul 12 04:23:23 2009

New Republican Sonia Sotomayor attack: campaign cash - Politico
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New Republican Sonia Sotomayor attack: campaign cash

Politico

But both parties are signaling that they view campaign finance as increasingly important in the Sotomayor debate, in part because the issue likely would be ...

Judging the judge: Senate committee to question Sotomayor this week Los Angeles Times

Wisconsin's senators ready questions for Supreme Court nominee Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Opening skirmish Indianapolis Star

Manila Bulletin  - Pioneer Press  - Washington Examiner

all 2,469 news articles »
The Morning Wrap - The BLT: Blog of Legal Times
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The Morning Wrap

The BLT: Blog of Legal Times

Campaign Finance : The Obama administration could be presiding over the demise of the modern campaign finance system, Politico reports. ...

No real estate revival for corporate lawyers Reuters Blogs



all 7 news articles »
Sink Leads Fundraising For Florida Governor - CQPolitics.com
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Sink Leads Fundraising For Florida Governor

CQPolitics.com

... the seat open to run for US Senate in 2010. Crist announced campaign finance totals this week that put him in the fundraising lead for the Senate race.



and more »

From Google News Search: "campaign finance"
Sun Jul 12 04:25:02 2009

Why did McCain's campaign finance reform lead to the most expensive campaign ever?
Q. It is his signature piece of legislation. McCain=Feingold. His big win while reaching across the aisle.
Asked by Wooglet Voot - Sun Oct 19 21:46:57 2008 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Because they could not make the spending limits mandatory. Excluding that from the bill was one of the compromises insisted on by the Democrats. I really think that they had a campaign such as this in mind, where they can pour in soft money from around the world to buy the election.
Answered by Think and Grow - Sun Oct 19 23:12:59 2008

What kinds of factors would one need to take into account to construct a workable campaign finance reform?
Q. What kinds of factors would one need to take into account to construct a workable campaign finance reform?
Asked by Lefty - Tue Nov 25 13:59:20 2008 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. 1) The need for money to advertise. Advertising on TV has become an enourmous expense and prone to misrepresenting the facts. I feel a national information channel would be a great idea - allowing candidates to address issues and be a clearinghouse for information that was unbiased and biparitsan. It would also cut campaign expenses dramatically thus eliminating millionaire influence peddlers. 2) A paper trail for all donations. Even though Obama created a vast number of micro - donations not requiring them to be documented can lead to abuse. 3) Eliminating 527's and PAC's both types of groups can do end runs around reasonable reform. Also restricting how much money can be used by the RNC and DNC to advertise would also be practical.
Answered by Shadow Knight - Tue Nov 25 14:11:49 2008

Do we really need campaign finance reform?
Q. We have the internet and using the internet anyone can create a website and show their platform for all to see. If the voters would make the effort and educate themselves on the candidates in an election, wouldn't it be possible for an "underfunded" candidate to win?
Asked by Dan - Tue Jul 24 16:09:10 2007 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Not realy. What we need is for people in this country to wake up to how money is used to manupulate us through the media. People are coming to realize that the corporate controlled media is influencing public opinion through slanted coverage of seemingly unrelated events. Example. "Every one knows OJ did it" - Implied message - Rich black people alway get off. But our cops always get the right guy. Persoaly, I am not convinced that he did, or did not, do it. In any event, the prosecution did a poor job. I say let them waste their money. I am not influenced by it. I, and others like me, are using forums like this to, hopefuly, make people think a little harder so that they may escape that influence too.
Answered by 1st Amendment Nut - Tue Jul 24 16:19:33 2007

From Yahoo Answer Search: "campaign finance"
Fri Jul 10 07:39:01 2009