Publications
Disclosure
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
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
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
Campaign Finance in Minnesota
This study finds that a major loophole in Minnesota’s campaign finance system permits special interests to funnel unlimited amounts of money to political parties, legislative caucuses, and PACs- creating massive opportunities for special interest groups to distort Minnesota’s political process.
Authored by: Suzanne Novak & Paige Ammons
– 04/25/07
Campaign Finance in Ohio
This study finds that sky-high contribution limits—in a system riddled with loopholes—create massive opportunities for special interests to corrupt Ohio’s political process.
Authored by: Suzanne Novak, Maneesh Sharma & Bethany Foster
– 03/19/07
Campaign Finance in Michigan
This study finds that sham issue ads - advertisements masquerading as issue advocacy that plainly support the election or defeat of a candidate - are creating massive opportunities for special interest groups to corrupt Michigan’s political process.
Authored by: Suzanne Novak & Lauren Jones
– 03/15/07
Campaign Finance in Illinois
This study finds that an absence of any campaign contribution limits or public financing, limited disclosure, and poor enforcement of existing campaign finance laws are pushing campaign costs through the roof and fueling a pay-to-play culture that threatens to undermine public confidence in state and local government.
Authored by: Suzanne Novak & Seema Shah
– 02/22/07
Campaign Finance in Wisconsin
This study finds that sham issue ads advertisements masquerading as issue advocacy that plainly support the election or defeat of a candidate are creating massive opportunities for special interest groups to corrupt Wisconsins political process.
Authored by: Suzanne Novak and Seema Shah
– 02/20/07