Financing National Campaigns

Abstract

This article describes extant research and suggests new lines of inquiry on campaign finance. The literature is described in relation to two broad theoretical traditions: one derived from the rational actor model, and the other stemming from organizational theory. These frameworks provide some order to research which has focused on a variety of actors and questions, from individuals, political action committees, and parties as contributors to congressional and presidential candidates as recipients, and to the nature of the contribution transaction. Previously under utilized sources of data are referenced.