The Theoretical Foundations of Campaign Finance Regulation

This chapter discusses the theoretical foundations of campaign finance regulation with a particular focus on the central concepts—liberty, equality, corruption, participation, and democracy—that have animated scholarly debates. The chapter begins by outlining key concepts from the legal framework governing campaign finance in the United States. It then turns to the classic debate between libertarian and egalitarian approaches to campaign finance regulation. The chapter subsequently analyzes the concept of corruption before turning to the relationship between campaign finance, corruption, and democracy. Finally, the chapter considers debates about the First Amendment and its application to campaign speech and elections. The conclusion briefly outlines two avenues of ongoing research: the challenges of social media and judicial deregulation, respectively