Political Corruption in America
A History of Bribes, Graft, Patronage and Others Types of Abuse
Aug 22, 2008
Political corruption has always posed a serious challenge to America because it threatens democracy and good governance, undermining the legitimacy of government and democratic values.
Political Corruption
Political corruption may be defined as bribery, graft, extortion, robbery, patronage, nepotism, cronyism, conflict of interest and kickbacks. Ethically questionable behaviors have haunted American politics from the time Europeans settled country.
Political Corruption History in America
Political corruption was already a problem before the American Revolution. Royal governors and corporate placemen used their official positions to enrich themselves. With the availability of land, bribery and graft led to highly unethical practices. Colonial merchants ignored tariff duties and mercantile regulations. The taming of corruption was a major feature of the federal Constitution of 1787.
By the early nineteenth century, governmental contracts provided possibilities for official malfeasance. From Bureau of Indian Affairs agents to the scandals of the Ulysses S. Grant era, the opportunities for all types of corruption was rampant. President Lincoln, at the height of the Civil War war, replaced department head Simon Cameron with Edwin M. Stanton because of corruption concerns. The disputed election of Rutherford B. Hayes, who lost the popular vote but won the presidency with one electoral vote was the worst political corruption until the 2000 presidential election. Local governments, such as Tammany Hall in New York and the Daley political machine in Chicago were corrupt and accepted illegal contributions from business and others.
Political Corruption Reform
Political corruption reform started with the Pendleton Act of 1883 which created a federal civil service to cope with patronage problems. The Tillman Act of 1907 stopped banks and corporation from contributing to federal elections. In 1910, the law was passed requiring congressional candidates and their organization to report contributions and expenditures however it had many loopholes. The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act was passed in 1946 however both the Truman and Eisenhower presidencies were accused of questionable behavior by lobbyists.
Robert G. “Bobby” Baker, secretary of the Senate Democrat Majority Leader, influence peddling resulted in the Select Committee on Standards and Conduct for members of congress and by 1971, the Federal Election Campaign Act. After the Watergate scandal of 1972-1974, Congress passed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 which disallowed gifts to foreign officials by American companies. The 1978 Ethics in Government Act created the position of independent council. It was used in the Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton’s presidencies when it investigated charges of government misconduct. Other political corruptions include Koreagate scandals 1976-1978, the Abscam scandal of 1978-1980, the “Wedtech” affair of 1986 and the Abramoff congressional scandal of 2006.
Political Corruption Supreme Court Decisions
Political corruption reforms were weakened by the Supreme Court during the 1970s and 1980’s. The court ruled that earlier laws and regulations regarding campaign contribution violated the right of free speech and limited the use of mail-fraud statutes in charging local and state officials with corruption.
Political Corruption Effects
Political corruption affects the United States at every level. It undermines economic development, increases the cost of business, lowers compliance with environmental regulations and reduces the quality of government services.
Unless the public is alert to local, state or federal corruption prevelance, it will continue to haunt every election and congressional action.
Bibliography:
Cato Institute. Tax and Budget Bulletin #34, Reducing Federal Corruption, May 2006.
Drew, Elizabeth. Corruption in America. NY: Overlook Press, 2000
Green, Penny and Tony Ward. State Crime: Governments, Violence and Corruption. London: Pluto Press. 2000.
Glaeser, Edward and Claudia Goldin, eds. Corruption and Reform. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2006
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