We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Campaign Contributions?

By Susan Grindstaff
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 11,054
Share

Campaign contributions generally refer to money that is given to people who are running for elected office. Most countries, and regions or states within those countries, have laws that govern who can contribute to the campaigns and how much money they can give. In some countries, only individuals can contribute, whereas business or corporations are prohibited from contributing. In the United States, legislation called Campaign Finance Reform sparked such a debate that the U.S. Supreme Court had to make a ruling as to the constitutionality of the law.

In most countries, people running for office and their election committees are required to keep careful records regarding campaign contributions. The records will typically include not only the dollar amount, but also the date the donation was received and who made the donation. If any questions arise as to the legality of a campaign contribution, these records may be subject to review by oversight and judicial branches at any given time, and sometimes without warrant or subpoena.

Strict and carefully monitored regulations of campaign contributions are believed necessary to limit the incidence of bribery and corruption. These regulations are meant to prohibit wealthy and influential individuals or corporations from “buying” their own candidates. By limiting the amount of money that can be donated by any one individual, the hope is that no one will be able to gain disproportionate influence on a given candidate.

In January 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important ruling on “Citizens United." This case eventually forced the Supreme Court to rule on the issue of large corporations and how they can legally donate to campaigns. It was reported that the Supreme Court was much divided on the issue, but in a 5-4 decision, it eventually sided with the corporations.

The essence of the argument was that limitations on campaign contributions were a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution. This amendment allows for freedom of speech. The argument was that free speech also included being able to support and donate to election campaigns, without undue restriction.

Some people believe that freedom of speech as outlined in the U.S. Constitution should only apply to individuals, and not corporations. They believe that the Supreme Court decision will, in effect, pollute American politics. They argue that the decision makes it much easier for corporations and wealthier individuals to use their power and influence to help put into power candidates who are sympathetic to their corporate needs. Some argue that if funding is left only to individuals, it keeps a more level playing field for all the candidates.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-campaign-contributions.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.