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Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Cases on Campaign Ethics

Case studies on ethical issues in elections
  • A sin of omission?

    Misrepresenting an opponent's position

  • The proper relationship between a campaign and an independent expenditure committee

    A campaign manager signals the candidate's wishlist.

  • Conflicts of interest in campaigns

    A candidate's friend becomes a bidder on a government contract

  • Pledges and endorsements

    When candidates fills out a questionnaire for an interest group, do they pre-commit themselves to positions before they have had a chance to hear all sides of a legislative issue?

  • Access for candidates to government-created email lists

    Can a campaign use government databases?

  • When volunteers behave unethically

    Student volunteers remove an opponent's yard signs.

  • A case in campaign ethics

    A candidate poses with the seal of the office she hopes to hold

  • When is a candidate's personal life fair game?

    A candidate must decide whether to use information about his opponent's marriage.

  • A candidate uses a controversial photo in a campaign brochure.

  • A newly elected mayor decides whether to contest a citation for election code violations.

  • More pages:
Government Ethics Stories