Hofer / Patten Citizens Forgotten

Super PACs, Dark Money, and the Corporate Takeover of American Democracy
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-3-032-23580-0
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 134 Seiten

Reihe: Progress in Mathematics

Since the 2010   and  rulings, campaign finance laws have undergone a seismic shift. These changes include the establishment of super PACs, which have allowed unlimited contributions and spending from megadonors to be funneled into political activism. These dramatic changes in campaign finance have allowed a small number of ultra-wealthy contributors to reshape American democracy and all three branches of government.

Using data from the 2024 election cycle, this book explores the impact of the super PAC, which has allowed megadonors unprecedented capacity to shape political outcomes through targeted campaigning. These super PACs outspend all other political entities combined in America’s most competitive congressional races while prioritizing national agendas and extensively using negative campaign advertisements. At the executive level, contributions to super PACs have become a convenient way for the ultra-wealthy to gain backdoor influence into executive actions and policy choices. Finally, the judicial branch, which opened the door to these changes, has experienced a crisis of legitimacy resulting from ties to dark money from litigants with cases before the courts. Combining historical, legal and empirical analysis, this book provides a clear, accessible overview of how campaign finance deregulation has amplified the voices of the wealthy at the expense of democratic representation.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hofer, Scott J.

Patten, Joseph N.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1: The Return of the Robber Barons:The creation of Super PACs and the Outsized Influence of Mega Donors Today.- Chapter 2: Super PACs and Congress:Unequal Representation and the Corrupting Influence of Mega Donors.- Chapter 3: The Billionaire's Bully Pulpit: Super PACs and Presidential Power.- Chapter 4: Bench Press: How Super PACs Flex Their Power Over the Courts.

Über Autor(innen)

Scott J. Hofer is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Monmouth University. His research focuses on American politics and judicial behavior, specifically regarding the impacts of race, gender, and ideology on judicial appointments and representation.

Joseph N. Patten is Professor of Political Science at Monmouth University. He is the co-author of  (Palgrave Macmillan 2023) and  (2025).