Abstract
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This paper explores how the current system of campaign finance in the United States leads to dependence corruption, how it is the seemingly inevitable product of legal canon, and how this legal canon itself began. This leads to a call for reform to tackle the corruption that campaign finance poses. Suggested reforms range from the passage of new legislation all the way to a restructuring of the Supreme Court, but these are areas where further research and exploration should take place. 

Lessons for practice:

• Oftentimes, problems faced in American society go deeper than simply an issue of legislation (or lack thereof); instead, we have to examine underlying institutions and structures that are influencing outcomes.
• Fundamental human rights are complicated, and in our efforts to protect them in daily life, we cannot forgo one in favor of another, but instead must find a way to balance the variable interests represented by each. 
  
• Corruption doesn’t have to be blackmail or quid pro quo agreements, it can also be simply a blurring of incentives that shifts the motivations of political actors away from the public good and their electorate. 
  
• There is an increasing interconnectedness between different spheres of our society, so in seeking solutions to complex societal problems, multi-dimensional approaches will be necessary. 

Keywords: Corruption, campaign finance, political lobbying.

Citation: Bracher, W. (2023). Campaign Finance Regulation in the United States: A Complex Corruption. Public Note, 10(2), 4-7.

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About the author
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"Willem Bracher is currently studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, with a focus on markets and regulators. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs but has appreciated the chance to live and study in Europe for the duration of his undergraduate program. Willem has always been fascinated by American politics and enjoyed having this opportunity to explore the topic more deeply and share the results with others. Outside of academics Willem is passionate about music,  spending his free time playing piano and guitar (and curating his many Spotify playlists). He would like to thank his academic supervisors who provided invaluable feedback on his research paper, as well as Public Note for sponsoring the Undergraduate Research Symposium."