Campaign Finance Reform
From its beginning 15 years ago, the Brennan Center has been a leading intellectual and legal force for strong and effective campaign laws. The Center believes that public financing of elections, robust disclosure laws, and other campaign reforms will reduce the power of money and special interests in our elections and return voters to the center of our democracy.
In 2003, we were co-lead counsel successfully defending the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law in McConnell v. FEC. In March 2011, we were co-lead counsel defending the Arizona Clean Elections law in Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett. In addition to briefing the merits, we enlisted 17 amicus briefs in support of public financing. We also defended the Maine public financing law on a procedural appeal to the Supreme Court, and the Connecticut Clean Elections system federal court. Finally, the Brennan Center has been active in defending robust disclosure rules in federal and state courts and before state administrative agencies.
In 2011, the Center launched a new jurisprudential movement for a vision of the First Amendment that promotes meaningful elections and reflects the rights of voters. We released Money, Politics and the Constitution: Beyond Citizens United, the first major book to assess the constitutional way forward. Authors include Yale Law Dean Robert Post, NYU professors Samuel Issacharoff, Rick Pildes and Burt Neuborne, University of Chicago’s Geoffrey Stone, and the Brennan Center’s Monica Youn.
Our report Corporate Campaign Spending: Giving Shareholders a Voice was published just weeks after Citizens United. It argues that in the wake of the court’s decision, corporate and securities laws need to be adjusted to give shareholders more transparency and accountability about corporate political spending. Also, together with Justice at Stake and the National Institute on Money in State Politics, we published The New Politics of Judicial Elections, a ten-year report showing that campaign spending in state Supreme Court races doubled over a decade. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote the foreword. Other publications over the past year include Small Donor Matching Funds: The NYC Election Experience, Transparent Elections After Citizens United, and a new edition of Writing Reform, a campaign finance treatise for state and local advocates.
Daily updates from the press and blogosphere on our issues.
April 29, 2011
March 27, 2010
Center for Individual Freedom v. Natalie Tennant
The Brennan Center and other amici and its pro bono partner in defending provisions of West Virginia's disclosure law, arguing that the law is well within the mainstream among states that have adopted similar laws; laws which have been upheld repeatedly by the federal courts.
Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, Inc. v. Swanson
After an Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld Minnesota's disclosure laws and ban on corporate contributions, the Eighth Circuit granted petitioners' request for an en banc review, vacating the panel's prior ruling.
Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett
The Brennan Center, with its pro bono partner, defended the Arizona Clean Elections law in front of the Supreme Court in Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett, a case challenging one provision of Arizona’s public financing system—triggered matching funds.
A roundup with the latest news highlighting the corrosive nature of money in New York State politics — and the need for public financing and robust campaign finance reform.
The president's campaign blessing contributions to the Super PAC supporting him is a distraction from the real questions about today’s campaign finance environment.
A roundup with the latest news highlighting the corrosive nature of money in New York State politics — and the need for public financing and robust campaign finance reform.
Illustrations by Risko
Joint Statement on Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address
In yesterday's State of the State Address, Governor Andrew Cuomo vowed to lead the push for what could become the most important reform in the nation in 2012: reducing the massive influence of big money in our political system through public financing of elections for New York State.
Brennan Center Praises Cuomo’s Support of Public Financing
Following Governor Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address, the Brennan Center released this statement from Executive Director Michael Waldman.
Karl Rove Coordination Request: Another FEC Failure
After the FEC deadlock today on an advisory opinion request submitted on behalf of Karl Rove, the Brennan Center released the following statement from Senior Counsel Adam Skaggs.
Comment to FCC on Disclosure Requirements for Television Broadcast Licensees
The Brennan Center for Justice submitted a comment to the Federal Communications Commision, urging it to require television broadcasters to post financial information about spending on political advertisements online.
Comment to SEC on Corporate Political Spending Disclosure Petition
The Brennan Center for Justice submitted a comment to the Securities and Exchange Commission, urging it to require public companies to disclose their direct and indirect political spending.
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Urging Opposition to H.R. 3463
The Brennan Center for Justice submitted a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging them to oppose a bill that would terminate the Election Assistance Commission and end the presidential public financing system.
Congress Can Fix the Super PAC Problem
The Florida primary shows why it's time end the farce of "independent" expenditures.
Growing Backlash Against ‘Citizens United’
We can expect citizens and courts to continue to rally against the case until it ceases to be the law of the land.
Minimizing Special-Interest Power by Maximizing Participation
Fighting back against restrictive voting-rights laws and empowering small donors can help reclaim elections.