Publications
Public Financing
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
Meaningful Ethics Reform for the “New” Albany
The corruption scandals of the last few years have profoundly shaken the faith of New Yorkers in their state government. This report examines the system erected by New York's current ethics laws and makes clear recommendations for a way forward.
Authored by: Lawrence Norden, Kelly Williams, & John Travis
– 02/11/11
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
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
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
Breaking Free with Fair Elections
Coalition publication supporting full public financing for congressional elections. Supported by the Brennan Center, Common Cause, Democracy Matters, Public Campaign, Public Citizen & U.S. PIRG.
– 03/27/07
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