In Brief Money drives many things in our country, and politics is no exception. Mounting a successful campaign is very expensive, and candidates often rely on donations from special interest groups. Advocates of campaign finance reform argue that once elected, politicians fell obligated to support the interests of these groups so that they will donate funds for the next election. Campaign finance laws limit the amount of money contributed to federal election candidates and prohibit contributions from certain sources. An FEC guide explains the nuances of existing campaign finance law.
State regulations vary.
These contributions are unlimited and difficult to account for. Contributions from political action committees are another source of controversy. PACs range from business associations to single-issue groups. This CNN fact sheet explains basic terminology used in the debate. FEC Offers financial information on candidates and parties, including data on the 2000 Presidential candidates.