Introduction

Campaign contributions are given in huge sums in the US today. For instance, in the 2016 federal elections, a record $6.4billion was spent—much of it in the form of private campaign donations. In this chapter, campaign contributions, their influence on elections/policy, and their broader impact on society are discussed in general terms as a way of introducing the themes of the book. The chapter concludes by briefly addressing political reforms and providing a concise outline of the chapters that will follow.