Publications
Campaign Finance Reform
Money, Politics, and the Constitution: Beyond Citizens United
Top Constitutional scholars launch a new jurisprudence to curb the rise of unfettered money in politics post-Citizens United. What is next for the First Amendment? And how can we advance a vision of the Constitution as a charter for a vibrant, participatory democracy?
Authored by: The Brennan Center for Justice and The Century Foundation
– 04/28/11
Transparent Elections after Citizens United
Where do disclosure laws stand post-Citizens United? What does the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling mean for state-based laws? And are disclosure laws constitutionally sound? This report examines these questions and urges transparency through modest changes to state-based election laws.
Authored by: Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
– 03/01/11
Writing Reform: A Guide to Drafting State & Local Campaign Finance Laws (2010 Revised Edition)
Written by Brennan Center attorneys who have litigated campaign finance cases in federal and state courts throughout the nation, Writing Reform offers both practical tips and legal analysis for drafters of campaign finance reform bills or initiatives—those who want to stay within current constitutional constraints and those who want to test those limits.
Authored by: Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
– 12/09/10
Small Donor Matching Funds: The NYC Election Experience
This report examines the New York City system and shows that a system based on small donations with a multiple match can change the dynamics of money in our politics. Specifically, the small donor multiple match system—which is a feature of both Fair Elections and the New York City system—has the potential to transform our politics by incentivizing and supercharging grassroots fundraising.
Authored by: Angela Migally, Susan Liss, Frederick A.O. Schwarz
– 09/17/10
The New Politics of Judicial Elections, 2000-2009: Decade of Change
State judicial elections have been transformed during the past decade. The story of America’s 2000–2009 high court contests—tens of millions of dollars raised by candidates from parties who may appear before them, millions more poured in by interest groups, nasty and misleading ads, and pressure on judges to signal courtroom rulings on the campaign trail—has become the new normal.
For more than a decade, partisans and special interests of all stripes have been growing more organized in their efforts to use elections to tilt the scales of justice their way.
Authored by: the Justice at Stake Campaign, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, and the National Institute of Money in State Politics
– 08/16/10
Buying Justice: The Impact of Citizens United on Judicial Elections
The impact of the Citizens United decision will be most felt in judicial elections. Adam Skaggs looks at election spending history and what state laws Citizens United overturns to show how increased corporate spending in state judicial elections may threaten independent and impartial courts.
Authored by: Adam Skaggs
– 05/05/10
Renewing Democracy After Citizens United
Citizens United shook all who care about American democracy. But even before the U.S. Supreme Court’s radical ruling handed vast new power to corporations and their allies, it was plain: our political system is broken. This publication explains what fixes are necessary to have in place in order to renew our democracy.
Authored by: Michael Waldman and Susan Liss
– 04/26/10
Corporate Campaign Spending: Giving Shareholders A Voice
This report proposes changes in corporate law to adapt to the post-Citizens United reality. We propose changes, based on British law, to require managers of corporations to report political spending directly to shareholders, and to obtain authorization from the same shareholders when making election-related expenditures.
Authored by: Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
– 01/27/10
Electoral Competition and Low Contribution Limits
This report examines campaign contribution limits and the impact limits can have on electoral competition.
Authored by: Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, Kahlil Williams and Dr. Thomas Stratmann
– 05/04/09
Writing Reform: A Guide to Drafting State & Local Campaign Finance Laws (2008 Revised Edition)
A guide to writing state and local campaign finance laws.
Authored by: Deborah Goldberg
– 06/27/08