Plutocrats United: Campaign Money, the Supreme Court, and the Distortion of American Elections

Dr. Richard Hasen 
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science, 
University of California, Irvine 

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Citizens United case removed restraints on campaign spending, resulting in the emergence of “Super PACs” that provide millions of dollars to candidates for elected office. Dr. Richard Hasen, author of nine books and dozens of articles on election law and campaign finance regulations, declares, “The relationship between money and politics in the United States is more complicated than mere vote buying.” He goes on to say he believes it is incorrect to focus on politicians being bribed as the main fallout from Citizens United. He believes that the bigger concern is “the fundamental unfairness of a political system moving toward the wealthy.” Dr. Hasen gives examples of how the top economic class increasingly is dictating the outcome of elections. 

Recorded: September 16, 2015