ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that the impact of loosely regulated private financing of campaigns on the representative character of the pluralist aspects of government in the United States. Campaign contributions do not outright "buy" politicians or their votes on legislation. The image most people seem to have of the exchange between contributor and lawmaker is probably something akin to selling one's soul to the devil; political action committees seek out desperate candidates and proffer the coveted campaign money in exchange for their political souls. Money does not rule. The nature of the influence of campaign contributions on governmental decisions depends upon the conditions under which the decisions are made. Campaign contributions can be used to influence the outcome of governmental decisions. While journalistic accounts of the role of campaign contributions have long claimed that contributions lead to influence, there is less certainty in findings of scientific research utilizing sophisticated models.
