What We Do
Campaign Reforms
Without waiting for the U.S. Congress to stem the tide of money in federal elections, citizen activists in many states have achieved reform of state campaign finance practices through the ballot initiative process or legislative action. Policymakers and citizen activists have sought NVRI's legal advice as they craft reforms, and they have turned to NVRI for legal assistance in defending reforms when they are challenged in court.
NVRI has defended a broad range of measures, from contribution limits to disclosure provisions and public funding of elections. In its defense of limits on candidate expenditures, NVRI has been at the forefront of efforts to revisit the Supreme Court's 1976 Buckley v. Valeo decision invalidating federal spending limits.
Defending Campaign Finance and Related Reforms:
- Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform in Minnesota
Victory for Minnesota Reform Law - Contribution Limits
Marc Katz v. City of Austin, Texas
Frank v. City of Akron - Legal Victory for Clean Elections in Massachusetts
Bates v. Sullivan - Limits on "Soft Money" Contributions in Alaska
Jacobus v. State of Alaska - Contribution Limits:
Landell v. Sorrell
Nixon v. Shrink Missouri Government PAC
Colorado Right to Life Committee v. Buckley - Corporate Spending in Ballot Initiatives
Montana Chamber of Commerce v. Argenbright - Reporting and Disclosure Requirements:
Vermont Right to Life Committee v. Sorrell
Stenson v. McLaughlin - Public Financing:
Daggett v. Webster - Limits on Out-of-State and Out-of-District Contributions
Vannatta v. Keisling - Federal Regulation of Political Party Coordinated Expenditures
F.E.C. v. Colorado Republican Campaign Committee
Advice to State Activists
Constitutional review of proposed legislation and ballot initiatives in various states
The Institute serves as a key constitutional advisor to national groups such as Public Campaign and to state and local grassroots organizations across the country engaged in drafting campaign finance reform legislation and ballot initiatives. The Institute provides expert advice on the constitutionality of proposed legislation and ballot initiatives, testimony before state legislative bodies on campaign reform proposals, explanations of recent court decisions, and other general legal advice on issues in the campaign finance reform field. As with the Institute's other legal work, this assistance is generally provided on a pro bono basis as part of the Institute's mission to advance equal political participation through meaningful campaign finance reform.
- NVRI Memorandum on the Constitutionality of Clean Elections Laws
- NVRI Memorandum on the Impact of McConnell v. FEC on Constitutionality of Campaign Spending Limits
- NVRI Summary of Supreme Court's Ruling in Nixon v. Shrink Missouri Gov't PAC
- NVRI Summary of District Court's Ruling in Landell v. Sorrell