U.S. Election Campaigns: A Documentary and Reference Guide

This reference for undergraduate students traces developments in campaign regulations and court interpretations over the past 100 years, using excerpts from about 60 primary documents paired with plain-language explanations. The documents include federal statutes, executive orders, Supreme Court decisions, opinions from the Federal Election Commission, and sections of the Internal Revenue Code. They are presented in chronological order within chapters covering the 19th century through the present. Chapter-opening essays review historical events of the era. Commentary on each document touches on the document's origins and importance. A reader's guide organizes the documents into categories, including campaign finance statutes and regulations, corrupt campaign practices and scandals, executive orders, FCC broadcast regulations, and court decisions on ballot access, corporate rights, and redistricting. The book's layout features b&w historical and contemporary photos, political cartoons, and margin sidebars. Baldino and Kreider teach political science at Wilkes University. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Thomas J. Baldino is professor of political science at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA, and program coordinator for the university's Political Science major and minor.

Kyle L. Kreider is assistant professor of political sciences at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA, where he has served as university pre-law advisor.