Various other things, not in themselves wrong, have been made illegal
by statute because they are regarded as contrary to good public policy
in that they tend to render an election undignified, or unfair, or
unnecessarily expensive. Canvassing and distribution of campaign
literature is forbidden within a certain radius of the polling place.
Campaign advertisements must not be printed in some states unless they
bear the name and address of a qualified voter. Candidates are
required to file with the proper authorities a statement of their
campaign expenses and it is illegal to spend more than a prescribed
sum even for purely legitimate purposes, such as the hiring of halls
and the printing of posters. The purpose of these provisions is not
only to render the election a dignified affair, as becomes an exercise
of popular sovereignty, but to give every candidate, rich or poor, as
nearly equal a chance as the laws can ensure. These regulations are
sometimes evaded, it is true, but on the whole they are well respected
both by party organizations and by candidates. In Senator Newberry’s
case the United States Supreme Court ruled that Congress could not
limit the campaign expenses of candidates for election to the Senate
or the House. Control of these elections rests with the several
states.
Footnote 50:
They try to persuade the existing parties into helping them gain their
object; if they fail in this, they frequently organize a new party.
Thus the Liberty and Free Soil parties were organized to abolish
slavery; the Prohibition party to get rid of the liquor traffic, and
the Progressive party to put through various political and economic
changes which the older parties would not father.
Footnote 51:
That, indeed, is what does actually happen at times in spite of the
party system. A President, elected by one political party, negotiates
a treaty; a Senate controlled by the other political party declines to
ratify it. A governor insists that pledges made by him during the
election campaign shall be carried out; but the legislature (having a
majority of the opposite faith) declines to pass the necessary laws. A
mayor tries to make an appointment, and his political opponents in the
city council refuse confirmation. Such things happen now and then. As
a general rule, however, when a political party gains control of one
branch of the government it gains control of the other too.
Footnote 52:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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