"This is a scholarly history and review of the US attempt to regulate campaign finance. It includes an extensive, technical analysis of the long struggle to enact limitations on campaign finance contributions and spending. Mutch also discusses how the federal courts have restricted the application of the legislation. No other work examines the legislative history of campaign finance in the US in so much detail. It is well written, thoroughly researched, careful, and highly technical in analysis. As such it is of interest only to the serious graduate student and to faculty members who seek detailed information on US parties and elections." -- Choice
Review
“This is a scholarly history and review of the US attempt to regulate campaign finance. It includes an extensive, technical analysis of the long struggle to enact limitations on campaign finance contributions and spending. Mutch also discusses how the federal courts have restricted the application of the legislation. No other work examines the legislative history of campaign finance in the US in so much detail. It is well written, thoroughly researched, careful, and highly technical in analysis. As such it is of interest only to the serious graduate student and to faculty members who seek detailed information on US parties and elections.”–
“. . . a meticulous and provocative analysis of federal campaign finance law. . . his writing is lucid and insightful.”–
“There is nothing here that has not the merit--and it is a considerable one--is the assembling of virtually all there is to know about the legal ins and outs, expectations, and disappointments surrounding the creation and regulation of political action committees. The organization of the book is historical, the method descriptive. It is quite good history, very enjoyable reading, and especially good at weaving in information from a variety of sources. . . . `No law can weaken the resolve of powerful forces behind that money to influence federal elections.' Which conclusion do you prefer: Corporate PACS urged to act like Captain America (and use their power only for `good and the American way'), or PACs assessed as determined subverters of the public will? Presumably neither. But each provides benefits unavailable anywhere else, and thus each is a contribution.”–
“The attention to historical detail . . . will make Campaigns, Congress, and Courts a welcome addition to the personal library of any political parties, public administration, and constitutional law courses.”–
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