Political campaigns are not cheap. Candidates spend oodles of money on promoting themselves and their platforms in hopes of reaching and influencing voters to elect them. But, where do candidates get all this money coming from and what are the rules for accepting money, spending money and filing money? Campaign contributions are public record - search the PADOS site to find out information about campaign donations.

A successful election campaign depends on communication, and communication costs money. However, it is believed by some that money has the potential to corrupt a candidate, to drive him or her to serve their own interests rather than the public good. For instance, there is a belief that an unusually large financial contribution could influence the voting behavior of an elected official. Campaign finance laws are intended to reduce the potential for corruption, or even the appearance of corruption.

Click here for Philadelphia's Campaign Finance Law (pdf)

Click here for a Q&A on Philadelphia's Campaign Finance Law

Click here for more information on the Nutter v. Dougherty case, in which the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld Philadelphia's Campaign Finance Law.

Committee of Seventy's
2008 Citizen's Guide

The Committee of Seventy is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)3 organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or party affiliation. Seventy does not lobby or support, endorse or oppose candidates for office. � 2005