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Democracy Chronicles

Money Politics: Lobbying and Corruption in America

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The pernicious influence of money politics has a long history in America, but recent years have seen more spending and less transparency than ever before. Get the latest news about American money politics below and also be sure to visit our main section on American Democracy.

money in elections
Dictators in Moneyland’: Challenging kleptocracy ‘Dictators in Moneyland’: Challenging kleptocracy (9/27/2019) - Ever since the earliest years of this century, Ukraine has been the contested frontier in…
Zimbabwean activist doctor unable to recall details of his disappearance Zimbabwean activist doctor unable to recall details of his disappearance (9/21/2019) - Prominent doctor and activist Peter Magombeyi leader of Zimbabwe doctors' strike was abducted and tortured…
More Money for Election Security: Brennan Center Statement Senate to Support More Money for Election Security: Brennan Center Statement (9/20/2019) - Brennan Center for Justice has issued a statement following news that Senate will support more…
Common Cause looks at the shortfalls of Senate Election Security Funding Common Cause looks at the shortfalls of Senate Election Security Funding (9/20/2019) - Common Cause President Karen H. Flynn has issued a statement on the recent boost to…
Appeals Court: Trump Liable in view of Emoluments Clauses Appeals Court: Trump Liable in view of Emoluments Clauses (9/18/2019) - A federal appeals court says President Trump can be sued for unconstitutionally benefiting from his…
Enhancing democracy support: new tactics, models, actors, and strategies Enhancing democracy support: new tactics, models, actors, and strategies (9/18/2019) - Democracy assistance is failing to adapt to the shifting dynamics of global politics evident in…
free speech
Last independent media voice in Egypt facing escalating pressure Last independent media voice in Egypt facing escalating pressure (11/25/2019) - Egyptian forces targeted one of the last remaining independent news outlets Saturday, arresting and detaining…
NYT defends publishing information on whistleblower New York Times defends publishing information on whistleblower (9/27/2019) - NYT defends decision to disclose key details about the whistleblower whose complaint against President Trump…
Global Voices: Journalism Under Threat in Nicaragua Global Voices: Journalism Under Threat in Nicaragua (9/26/2019) - National Press Club International Correspondents Committee and Press Freedom Team hosts a discussion on “Global…
Event: Commemorating the life of Jamal Khashoggi one year on Event: Commemorating the life of Jamal Khashoggi one year on (9/26/2019) - Project on Middle East Democracy, 12 other human rights and press freedom organizations to host…
California trip shows Trump doesn't always hate the media California trip shows Trump doesn’t always hate the media (9/20/2019) - Trump's media animosity is legendary. However Trump made a show of conviviality towards reporters traveling…
Moscow Protests’ Rare Show of Defiance & Solidarity Moscow Protests’ Rare Show of Defiance & Solidarity (9/18/2019) - A growing number of Russian entertainers joined in a rare show of defiance and solidarity,…
transparency
FEC Vice Chair Resigns: implications for decision-making FEC Vice Chair Resigns: dire implications for decision-making as 2020 polls loom (8/27/2019) - FEC vice chairman Matthew Petersen resigned Monday effective Friday. His resignation leaves the election cop…
Spakovsky's GOP-friendly campaign: States should adopt anti-immigrant redistricting change Spakovsky’s GOP-friendly campaign: States should adopt anti-immigrant redistricting change (8/20/2019) - Spakovsky's GOP-friendly campaign encourages States to move forward with anti-immigrant redistricting change using upcoming data…
FEC chairwoman to Trump: 'There is no evidence of rampant voter fraud FEC chairwoman to Trump: ‘There is no evidence of rampant voter fraud’ (8/20/2019) - The chairwoman of the FEC doubled down on her call for President Trump to stop…
US Public Might Not Be Told About Foreign Efforts to Alter Next Election US Public Might Not Be Told About Foreign Efforts to Alter Next Election (6/27/2019) - Senior U.S. officials say they are already busy buttressing the nation’s defenses against foreign interference…
Congressional Oversight and Making America Pragmatic Again Podcast: Congressional Oversight and Making America Pragmatic Again (6/23/2019) - We tend to think about congressional oversight in very academic terms — checks and balances,…
Watchdogs Sue for Access to Information On Voting Machines Security Watchdogs Sue for Access to Information On Voting Machines Security (6/22/2019) - Free Speech For People files lawsuit on behalf of NEDC to uncover communications about election…

money politics: an american story

According to election reform advocacy group Common Cause, billions of dollars have been spent on buying American elections since that ruling and much of it has come from completely anonymous organizations. At least six billion dollars amount spent on the 2012 election according to an estimate by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. Candidates backed by huge one-time donations from the wealthy are inevitably more beholden to special interests. Money is exchanged directly for political favors, such as generous campaign donations for a lucrative government contract.

Money Politics
Corruption depicted by Thomas Nast – link

The problem with money politics is not so much the amount that is spent on campaigns as it is who pays for them, what they get in return, and how that affects public policy, spending priorities, and even war. Thanks to decades of rulings by Justices and politicians who molded the law to favor elite interests, corporations today are granted so-called “rights” that empower them to deny citizens the right to full democracy.

transparency in money politics

It is important to remember that transparent governments allow the public to review government practices as completely as possible. Increasing standards of transparency and accountability for decisions while adding controls for self-interested abuse of the democratic system. The federal law requiring partial or full disclosure of previously unreleased documents controlled by the government, the Freedom of Information Act, is not effective having been degraded by President George W. Bush’s OPEN Government Act (Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government) and President Barack Obama’s Executive Order 13526.

Also take a look the transparency reference websites Judgepedia and Ballotpedia that are also great references.

state and local money politics

Just how much cash is being spent independently on elections for state office or in the 39 states that elect their lower court judges? The answer is unknown in most states, according to the latest National Institute on Money in State Politics analysis of disclosure requirements for independent spending. They found that only fifteen states ‘require full disclosure of both forms of independent spending: express advocacy and electioneering communications’. Amazingly, twenty-six states fail to provide clear disclosure of election spending making state politics a perfect arena for corruption without any transparency.

public funding
FEC Vice Chair Resigns: implications for decision-making FEC Vice Chair Resigns: dire implications for decision-making as 2020 polls loom (8/27/2019) - FEC vice chairman Matthew Petersen resigned Monday effective Friday. His resignation leaves the election cop…
How Fair Election Advocates Seek To Shape NY Public Financing How Fair Election Advocates Seek To Shape NY Public Financing (7/19/2019) - Election advocates urges Gov. Cuomo to embrace a recommendations outlined in a letter that would…
Innovative Seattle Democracy Voucher Program Big Court Win For Innovative Seattle Democracy Voucher Program (7/17/2019) - Huge win for reform advocates a the Washington Supreme Court unanimously confirmed the constitutionality of…
Cautious Optimism For NY Public Campaign Financing Commission Cautious Optimism For NY Public Campaign Financing Commission (7/14/2019) - As New Yorkers geared up for the holiday weekend last week, state government leaders announced…
Seattle Campaign Finance Program Gives Voters $100 To Donate Seattle Campaign Finance Program Gives Voters $100 To Donate (6/21/2019) - Seattle City Council candidate Pat Murakami weaves through front yards and porches, knocking on doors…
Analysis Finds a Small Donor Class Funds Oregon Elections Analysis Finds a Small Donor Class Funds Oregon Elections (6/17/2019) - As Oregon state legislators consider a package of bills to limit the influence of money…
corruption
America: time to return to our values America: time to return to our values (11/15/2019) - Resetting American values will improve the country’s treatment of migrants such that America would once…
Trump and allies ask media to release name of Whistleblower Trump and allies ask media to release name of Whistleblower (11/6/2019) - Where there is risk in identity revelation media withholds name of source. But Trump &…
Trump calls Emoluments Clause “phony” attacking constitution he swore to defend Trump calls Emoluments Clause “phony” attacking constitution he swore to defend (10/21/2019) - After scrapping decision to take 2020 G-7 to his Miami resort Trump Monday called Emoluments…
Emoluments Clause: Trump awards 2020 G-7 to his Miami Resort Emoluments Clause: Trump awards 2020 G-7 to his Miami Resort (10/19/2019) - Trump has awarded next year's G-7 to his Miami Doral resort. Common Cause says this…
How President Trump and Giuliani weaponized the State Department How President Trump and Giuliani weaponized the State Department (10/17/2019) - Insider reported Thursday that 8 Trump officials made revelations about how President Trump and and…
Trump fast becoming a GOP cult leader, strong man? Is President Trump fast becoming a GOP cult leader, strong man? (10/15/2019) - Ukrainegate and Syrian pullout have raised widespread anger. However, there is yet to be strong…
citizens united
Corporate Personhood Thoughts on Corporate Personhood (3/10/2019) - In looking for sense in the modern world, we must not overlook the fact that,…
Federal Court to Review Case that Could End Super PAC Spending Federal Court to Review Case that Could End Super PAC Spending (3/3/2019) - Federal court to review its 2010 ruling which created super PACs, in case led by…
Amendment Denying Corporate Personhood Amendment Denying Corporate Personhood Introduced in Congress (2/26/2019) - The movement for Constitutional reform that would end what organizers call “corporate rule” has arrived…
Holding US Companies Accountable for Their Secret Political Spending Holding US Companies Accountable for Their Secret Political Spending (2/12/2019) - The CPD Act of 2019 would build on growing stockholder trends that demand that corporations…
Battle of Money vs Democracy Citizens United: A Battle of Money vs Democracy (12/27/2018) - It is time to demand change and this begins with staging mass protests against the…
Overturning Citizens United Massachusetts Could Lead Way to Overturning Citizens United (11/5/2018) - Massachusetts could give an important boost to a movement seeking to amend the U.S. Constitution…

Join the Election Reform Movement With DC!

We are actively looking for creative new contributors so please get in touch if you would like to join our team. We are expanding coverage of election reform and we want to hear from people from all kind of backgrounds and perspectives. Republican Party or Green Party, in Brooklyn or Bangladesh, we are looking for people who want to join the democracy fight. You can also take a look at our Political Art page for political artists of all kinds that highlights the original work of numerous Democracy Chronicles authors.

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