美國二OO二年麥肯與范戈選舉改革法案之立法過程及成效評估

The U. S. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002(The McCain-Feingold Act): Its Legislative Process and Effects

彭子倫(Chih-Lung Peng)

指導教授 ： 戴萬欽

淡江大學/國際研究學院/美國研究所碩士班/碩士(2007年)

https://doi.org/10.6846/TKU.2007.00480

摘要

本論文將就美國近三十年來最重大的聯邦選舉改革法案－麥肯與范戈法案（The McCain-Feingold Act）進行深入剖析。提案的參議員麥肯（John McCain）與范戈（Russ Feingold）矢志淨化聯邦選舉，矯正利益團體以政治獻金賄賂聯邦公職人員的不當行為。自一九九O年代開始，政黨擅長使用「黨務建設」的軟錢資助聯邦選舉，企業界和利益團體也樂於捐助鉅款，藉以和總統與國會議員拉近距離，以介入公共政策的制定。麥肯與范戈法案的立法過程備受責難，適逢美國政壇爆發多起政治獻金醜聞，龐大的輿論壓力衝擊白宮及國會，才使得反對立法的勢力瓦解。麥肯與范戈法案的首要改革對象為：「軟錢」（soft money）、「獨立支出」（independent expenditures）和「議題提倡」（issue advocacy）。二OO四年美國總統選舉為麥肯與范戈法案生效後的首次聯邦選舉，筆者藉此檢視法案的施行成果，並進行初步評估。

關鍵字

美國選舉改革 ； 麥肯與范戈法案 ； 軟錢 ； 議題提倡

並列摘要

The main purpose of this thesis is to analyze the McCain-Feingold Act, which has been the most significant campaign finance reform for the past thirty years. Since the 1990s, political parties have begun using the unregulated “soft money” donations to finance federal elections. Corporations and unions are willing to provide party officials with “soft money” to have access to the White House and the Congress. Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold proposed the bill in order to sever the link between large political contributors, federal elected officials and party leaders. The McCain-Feingold Act was designed to address three issues: the increased role of soft money in campaign financing, the proliferations of issue advocacy, and the misuse of independent expenditures. The McCain-Feingold Act was stalled in both Houses until the occurrence of the scandal. The bankruptcy of Enron refocused national attention on the power of money in politics and underscored the need for reform. The 2004 presidential election was the first campaign season operating under the new rule. This thesis evaluates the impacts of the McCain-Feingold Act.

並列關鍵字

campaign finance reform ； soft money ； issue advocacy

參考文獻

彭錦鵬。「中華民國與美國國會議員競選經費之比較」。歐美研究，第二十五卷第一期，民國八十四年三月，頁一∼頁三五。

Bauer, Robert F. More Soft Money Hard Law: The Second Edition of the Guide to the New Campaign Finance Law. Washington, D.C.: Perkins Coie, 2004.

Edsall, Thomas B. “McCain Says FEC Is Not Enforcing Law.” The Washington Post. March 11, 2004, p. A04.

焦興鎧。「美國勞工組織與政黨關係之研究」。歐美研究，第二十二卷第四期，民國八十一年十二月，頁三七∼頁九九。

Balz, Dan and Thomas B. Edsall. “Democrats Forming Parallel Campaign.” The Washington Post. March 10, 2004, p. A1.