The Appearance of Corruption: Testing the Supreme Court's Assumptions about Campaign Finance Reform

In Buckley v. Valeo (1976), the US Supreme Court famously upheld the constitutionality of legislation limiting individual campaign contributions in federal elections. Key to the Court's decision is the notion that the government has a compelling interest in reducing "the appearance of corruption." By reducing the public's belief that elected officials are corrupt, the Court argues, we will see increased trust in government and, thereby, increased political participation. This behavioral model is unique in Supreme Court jurisprudence, yet has never been subjected to systematic empirical verification. This book identifies and tests the model with several national surveys. The data refute many of the linkages assumed by the Court, raising questions about the legal foundation for limiting political speech in federal election campaigns.

Daron R. Shaw is Distinguished Teaching Professor and Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Chair of State Politics at the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include public opinion and voting behavior, elections and campaigns, political parties, and survey research methodology. He is author of The Race to 270, co-author of Unconventional Wisdom, and co-author of The Turnout Myth. His work includes articles in American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Political Research Quarterly, Political Behavior, Electoral Studies, Political Communication and Election Law Journal.

Brian E. Roberts is Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in applied American politics. His interests include corporate political behavior and, more generally, campaign finance. His work includes articles in American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, and Election Law Journal.

Mijeong Baek is currently a senior researcher at the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles. Her research interests include public opinion, election campaigns, and American foreign policy.