Campaign Finance Reforms and the Presidential Campaign Contributions of Wealthy Capitalist Families

In: Social science quarterly, Band 72, Heft 4, S. 738-750

Abstract

The impact of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is assessed by a comparison of contributions to presidential campaigns in 1972 & 1984 by 590 members of 100 wealthy capitalist families. Included are contributions to both Republican & Democratic National Committees & to the 13 independent political action committees (PACs) making the largest expenditures to the presidential campaign in 1984. Results show a substantial decline in both number & magnitude of presidential campaign contributions in 1984. Families with high public visibility were most likely to contribute, & the Republican party was less affected by the decline in contributions than was the Democratic party. It is pointed out that the effect of PACs, entrepreneurs who have accumulated new wealth, & families who circumvented limitations of the act is not addressed. 4 Tables, 31 References. Adapted from the source document.