Category Archives: political parties
“If you want to understand Donald Trump, look to the success of the European far-right”
Matt Yglesias:
In a 2014 paper, law professor David Schleicher observed that institutional differences between the US and Europe can end up obscuring underlying similarities in the development of party politics.
Some countries have proportional electoral systems that are… Continue reading
“Ky. GOP rule change allows Paul to run for Senate amid his White House bid”
Movement to Ease California Top Two?
Richard Winger reporting from an event on top-two that I unfortunately had to miss because of teaching obligations:
During the question period, Paula Lee, an activist in Californians for Electoral Reform, which advocates alternate voting systems such as proportional representation,… Continue reading
“Rand Paul Purchases a Path Around an Inconvenient Kentucky Law”
The Atlantic:
Over the weekend, the Kentucky senator said he gave $250,000 to his state’s Republican Party for the explicit purpose of funding its presidential caucus in March. He promised to pony up another $200,000 in the fall, enough… Continue reading
“The McCain-Feingold Act May Doom Itself”
I have written this oped for the National Law Journal. It begins:
Did the congressional drafters of the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law build within it the seeds for its own destruction?
Tucked within the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (the formal… Continue reading
“Louisiana Republican Party sues over campaign contribution limits to state political parties”
The Advocate reports. I’ll have more on this suit coming Monday. As for why the last suit was dropped:
The Republican National Committee, along with the state party, sued the FEC last year over the same issue. But the RNC… Continue reading
“Election Law’s Path in the Roberts Court’s First Decade: A Sharp Right Turn But with Speed Bumps and Surprising Twists”
I have posted this draft on SSRN. It is still an early draft. Comments welcome! Here is the abstract:
The first decade of election law cases at the Supreme Court under the leadership of Chief Justice Roberts brought election law… Continue reading
Bloomberg BNA on Republicans’ New Soft Money Suit
Ken Doyle: [update: also here without a subscription]
No Explanation of Timing
The decision to renew the legal challenge to the BCRA soft-money limits on behalf of the Louisiana Republicans—but not the RNC—may reflect divisions within the party over… Continue reading
Republicans File Major New Challenge to McCain-Feingold Soft Money Rules
Read the complaint in Republican Party of Louisiana v. FEC. This is a major challenge, filed by Jim Bopp, raising not just as applied challenges, but facial challenges to the rules which limit how much money political parties can raise… Continue reading
“Limits unclear on new political party ‘slush funds’; Inaction by election cops gives Dems and Republicans free rein on spending”
CPI:
The Democratic and Republican parties certainly don’t agree on how to run the country, but they are in sync when it comes to capitalizing on a new law letting them raise eight times as much money from rich… Continue reading
“California Minor Parties Ask U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case Against Top-Two System”
BAN reports on this cert petition.
“Democratic Party Machinery Shows Rust; Leaders worry losses of state, local offices create shortage of top candidates”
“The debate over state polarization and campaign finance laws continues”
Lee Drutman:
One of the fundamental arguments in the “Political Realism” debate is whether or not strong political parties could make government work better. One way to assess party strength is to look at how much money parties can raise… Continue reading