The origins of campaign financing in the United States date back to 1791, when groups supporting and opposing Alexander Hamilton published competing newspapers designed to sway the electorate. These small expenditures set the framework for campaigns to come. For in the future, groups promoting their own special interests and corporations would spend increasing amounts of money to help their candidates campaign.
In the Presidential election of 1832, the financing of campaigns changed. The Bank of the United States, whose charter-renewal was threatened by President Andrew Jackson, spent heavily to elect Henry Clay, who supported renewal of the bank1s charter.
During the 1840's and 1850's, the size of the electorate grew and so did the amount of campaign spending. Still, during the pre-Civil War period, costs were relatively moderate, corruption and/or the appearance of corruption was the exception rather than the rule, and fundraising was conducted in an amateur fashion.
The drive to institute comprehensive campaign finance reform began around the turn of the century, when people revealed the financial misdeeds of President McKinley's 1896 campaign, where the audited accounts of the national committee revealed collections of about $3.5 million. The stories of corporations financing candidates' campaigns in hopes of influencing subsequent legislation prompted President Theodore Roosevelt, in 1905, to call for legislation to ban corporate contributions for political purposes. In 1925, Congress passed the Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1925, which applied to general election activity only, strengthening disclosure requirements and increasing expenditure limits. The Hatch Act of 1939 asserted the right of Congress to regulate primary elections. Additionally, the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 barred both labor unions and corporations from giving money to federal elections. In the 1960's, America was outraged by foreign governments donating to American campaigns. The conclusion? Congress enacted the Foreign Agents Registration Act, banning political contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals. In 1971, Congress enacted the Federal Election Campaign Act, instituting more stringent disclosure requirements for federal candidates and establishing an independent agency, the Federal Election Commission, to enforce the law and facilitate disclosure.
That is the history of campaign finance reform. Within this section of the Center for American Freedom's Educational Services, you fill find a vast collection of resources regarding the issue of campaign finance reform, all for your benefit! If you have any comments and ideas for this service, feel free to let us know.
--Common Cause--Public Campaign--Destination Democracy--The Federal Election Commission--All4Democracy--
--Public Funding--No Limits--Tax Credits and Deductions--Disclosure--More Limits--Term Limits--
--Roth v. United States, 1957--Buckley v. Valeo, 1976--Federal Election Commission v. NCPAC, 1985--
--Citizens' Guide to Contributions and the Law--Financial Information--Contribution and Financial Reports--Election Information--
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1999
Summary--Titles--Legislative Status--Cosponsors--Text of Legislation
Federal Election Enforcement and Disclosure Reform Act
Summary--Titles--Legislative Status--Cosponsors--Text of Legislation
To reform the Federal election campaign laws applicable to Congress
Summary--Titles--Legislative Status--Cosponsors--Text of Legislation
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