Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail

Efforts to reform the U.S. campaign finance system typically focus on the corrupting influence of large contributions. Yet, as Raymond J. La Raja and Brian F. Schaffner argue, reforms aimed at cutting the flow of money into politics have unintentionally favored candidates with extreme ideological agendas and, consequently, fostered political polarization. Drawing on data from 50 states and the U.S. Congress over 20 years, La Raja and Schaffner reveal that current rules allow wealthy ideological groups and donors to dominate the financing of political campaigns. In order to attract funding, candidates take uncompromising positions on key issues and, if elected, take their partisan views into the legislature. As a remedy, the authors propose that additional campaign money be channeled through party organizations—rather than directly to candidates—because these organizations tend to be less ideological than the activists who now provide the lion’s share of money to political candidates. Shifting campaign finance to parties would ease polarization by reducing the influence of “purist” donors with their rigid policy stances. La Raja and Schaffner conclude the book with policy recommendations for campaign finance in the United States. They are among the few non-libertarians who argue that less regulation, particularly for political parties, may in fact improve the democratic process.

History

Schaffner, Brian F.

La Raja, Raymond J.

Americas

University of Michigan Press

Efforts to reform the U.S. campaign finance system typically focus on the corrupting influence of large contributions. Yet, as Raymond J. La Raja and Brian F. Schaffner argue, reforms aimed at cutting the flow of money into politics have unintentionally favored candidates with extreme ideological agendas and, consequently, fostered political polarization. Drawing on data from 50 states and the U.S. Congress over 20 years, La Raja and Schaffner reveal that current rules allow wealthy ideological groups and donors to dominate the financing of political campaigns. In order to attract funding, candidates take uncompromising positions on key issues and, if elected, take their partisan views into the legislature. As a remedy, the authors propose that additional campaign money be channeled through party organizations—rather than directly to candidates—because these organizations tend to be less ideological than the activists who now provide the lion’s share of money to political candidates. Shifting campaign finance to parties would ease polarization by reducing the influence of “purist” donors with their rigid policy stances. La Raja and Schaffner conclude the book with policy recommendations for campaign finance in the United States. They are among the few non-libertarians who argue that less regulation, particularly for political parties, may in fact improve the democratic process.

ELECTION 2004 promises to be an instructionally interesting and unique supplemental booklet with analysis that includes maps, charts, and graphs. Both the presidential and congressional races will be included. Factors discussed by the authors include the unpredictable national political climate with our nation at war in an uneven economy. The use of real examples in this election booklet makes the concepts covered come alive for students.

Election 2004: An American Government Supplement

Education & Teaching

Clark, John A.

Schools & Teaching

Wadsworth Publishing

The use of real examples in this election booklet, which addresses the 2006 congressional and gubernatorial races, makes the concepts covered come alive for students.

Election 2006: An American Government Supplement

Cengage Learning'

The use of real examples in this election booklet, which addresses the 2008 presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial races, makes the concepts covered come alive for students.

Custom Enrichment Module: Election 2008: An American Government Supplement

POLITICS, PARTIES, AND ELECTIONS IN AMERICA, Seventh Edition, is filled with the latest research on what political parties do, how they are organized, how party leaders behave, the functions of political parties and their limitations, the unique features of American political parties, and the impact of political parties within the American political system. It provides balanced, up-to-date coverage of the political parties and the realities of political life. Included in this new edition are discussions about the 2008 nomination contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the realities of current campaign finance, the use of technology during campaigns, and more.

Politics, Parties, and Elections in America

"Election 2002" is an instructionally interesting and unique supplemental booklet with analysis that includes maps, charts, and graphs. Some factors discussed by the authors are the unpredictable national political climate after September 11 and subsequent economic slowdown, congressional redistricting affecting the outcome of a somewhat contentious yet closely divided legislature and trends and effects that may arise from the thirty-two gubernatorial elections across the country. The use of real examples in this election booklet makes the concepts covered come alive for students.

Election 2002: An American Government Supplement

Packed with the latest research, POLITICS, PARTIES AND ELECTIONS IN AMERICA provides a comprehensive account of what political parties do, how they are organized, how party leaders behave, the functions of political parties and their limitations, the unique features of American political parties, and the impact of political parties within the American political system. The text is straightforward, presenting rigorous concepts and recent scholarship in a manner that students can readily understand. Its balanced and up-to-date coverage of political parties imparts practical knowledge of the realities of political life.

Bibby, John F.

Local governments play a central role in American democracy, providing essential services such as policing, water, and sanitation. Moreover, Americans express great confidence in their municipal governments. But is this confidence warranted? Using big data and a representative sample of American communities, this book provides the first systematic examination of racial and class inequalities in local politics. We find that non-whites and less-affluent residents are consistent losers in local democracy. Residents of color and those with lower incomes receive less representation from local elected officials than do whites and the affluent. Additionally, they are much less likely than privileged community members to have their preferences reflected in local government policy. Contrary to the popular assumption that governments that are “closest” govern best, we find that inequalities in representation are most severe in suburbs and small towns. Typical reforms do not seem to improve the situation, and we recommend new approaches.

Hometown Inequality: Race, Class, and Representation in American Local Politics

Politics & Social Sciences

Rhodes, Jesse H.

Politics & Government

Cambridge University Press

Local governments play a central role in American democracy, providing essential services such as policing, water, and sanitation. Moreover, Americans express great confidence in their municipal governments. But is this confidence warranted? Using big data and a representative sample of American communities, this book provides the first systematic examination of racial and class inequalities in local politics. We find that non-whites and less-affluent residents are consistent losers in local democracy. Residents of color and those with lower incomes receive less representation from local elected officials than do whites and the affluent. Additionally, they are much less likely than privileged community members to have their preferences reflected in local government policy. Contrary to the popular assumption that governments that are "closest" govern best, we find that inequalities in representation are most severe in suburbs and small towns. Typical reforms do not seem to improve the situation, and we recommend new approaches.

Hometown Inequality

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Schaffner, Brian F.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Schaffner, Brian F.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Schaffner, Brian F.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail

Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail

Election 2004: An American Government Supplement

Election 2006: An American Government Supplement

Custom Enrichment Module: Election 2008: An American Government Supplement

Politics, Parties, and Elections in America

Election 2002: An American Government Supplement

Politics, Parties, and Elections in America

Hometown Inequality: Race, Class, and Representation in American Local Politics

Hometown Inequality