Whether it is the civil rights movement of the 1960s or today’s Tea Party movement, outsiders in American politics have always played a crucial role in challenging the status quo by pushing new ideas to the fore and inspiring newcomers to run for public office.
Such political entrepreneurs bring vibrancy to American democracy and keep the political establishment on its toes, much as economic entrepreneurs drive innovation and change in the marketplace.
Yet campaign finance laws in all 50 states erect barriers to entry for political entrepreneurs, just as occupational licensing laws keep upstarts from competing with established interests.
Milyo shows how contribution limits and campaign finance red tape make it harder for political entrepreneurs to form new groups and bring new voices to political debate, as well as reduce the resources available for political advocacy. The message from political insiders to upstart citizen groups could not be clearer: Keep out!
Arlington, Va.—“Stay home and leave politics to the professionals.” That is the message politicians in state capitols nationwide have for citizens hoping to make their voices heard this election season or any other, according to a new report released today by the Institute for Justice. The report, Keep Out: How State Campaign Finance Laws Erect…
Arlington, Va.—Freedom of speech and freedom of association are so important that they are enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Yet across the nation, in nearly every state, government regulation stifles the ability of citizens to exercise their rights to speak and to associate with one another and discuss the most pressing…
Institute for Justice
901 N. Glebe Road, Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22203
© Institute for Justice 2019
IJ® is a registered trademark of the Institute for Justice.
Privacy Policy