While 2012 wasn't as successful for the mega-contributors as 2010, should we conclude that money doesn't influence politics? Hardly.

What is lacking in the Constitutional amendment approach is an alternative funding system, one that gives candidates the option of running for office without wealthy patrons.

As polling stations are gradually closing, before the results start coming in, we need to take a last look at this campaign and reflect on what I perceive to be a vibrant election and a deplorable electoral process.

Not all political donations can be traced. Lawrence Lessig joined Alicia Menendez on HuffPost Live as part of HuffPost's Shadow Conventions 2012 cover...

Visualize a fantasy that Newt Gingrich is elected president. Immediately following his inauguration, he has a visit from Sheldon Adelson, the man who single-handedly revived his campaign.

Hundreds of candidates across the country have already run and won depending only small donations combined with public funds.

Denying candidates or elected officials knowledge of the identity of their contributors or supporters may dry up the well of contributions, but it may also purify our political system -- and our water too!

WASHINGTON -- The last week of August was a very generous one at the Smitherman household in Austin, Texas. Barry Smitherman had recently been appoint...

(Reuters) - National Football League teams have donated at least $1.4 million to politicians, parties, and committees since 2009, with about two-third...

Good-government advocates on Wednesday asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate four groups they say are blatantly flouting the law by claimi...

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's humble origins and down home straight talk are central to his political identity, but for years Perry has enjoyed lavish perks...

WASHINGTON -- The Internal Revenue Service is dropping its investigation of five donors for making contributions to the kind of nonprofit groups that ...

WASHINGTON -- In the month leading up to an early May vote over whether to expand oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and open the coastal waters of V...

WASHINGTON -- The chief sponsors of a bill to expand oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and open the coastal waters of Virginia for exploration have r...

A Walmart employee sent me a link to a website called "Walmart Community Votes," which allegedly exists to help inform employees about political candi...

Alaskans grew suspicious two years ago when a national organization called Americans for Job Security showed up and spent $1.6 million pushing a refer...

While celebrities are known to contribute big bucks in political support, what about your neighbors or your boss? Starting today, Huffington Post visitors have access to this information in just a few clicks.

WASHINGTON — A look at how much members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee received in political contributions from oil and gas interest...