Election Expenditure Systems in Taiwan：Appraisal & Reform

• Main Authors: Wei- Hong Jang, 鄭維宏
• Other Authors: Wanching E. Chow
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2002
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/92429165121635236510

碩士 === 銘傳大學 === 公共管理與社區發展研究所碩士在職專班 === 90 === It has been over 50 years since the first public official election held in Taiwan in 1950. During these 50 years, numerous of central and local public official elections have been taken place periodically under the participation among election commissions, different political parties, candidates and enthusiastic citizens. All these experiences have turned into a firm basis of Taiwanese democracy. However, the election expenditure of individual candidate in Taiwan has also been tremendous. For those who are talented but without strong financial support, the huge election expenditure may obstruct them from attending the election. Even though they participate in elections, they usually exhaust their strength in fund-raising. After wining, there will be a large debt standing ahead for them. Very often, politicians have to seek financial support from the big business or political factions. This twists the nature of election, which means to elect the capable and the virtuous. This is also harmful to the democratic development in Taiwan. This thesis attempts to approach a way of improving the current election expenditure system so as to make it more efficient, more reasonable and to lead to a cleaner election with less expenditure, so candidates will get equal chance to compete on more equal conditions. The regulation of election expenditure in democratic countries often involves the establishment of a fair election commission, careful monitoring of political contribution, disbursement, disclosure and audit. The original edition of the Public Officials Election & Recall Law in Taiwan was established in 1980. It has undergone several revisions to come to the current edition with reference to the Federal Election Law of the United States. However, the revisions of Taiwanese law on many dimensions have not taken the development and the spirit of the American system into account. This research therefore reviews the development of the American law and takes it as an important reference to the future revision of the Taiwanese system. By a method combined with regulations analysis and comparison, practical observation, and personal interviews with election commission officials, peoples’ representatives, candidates and citizens, this research examines the basis of election expenditure controlling theory, regulations of election expenditure of Taiwan and the United States, and suggests possible ways to improve the Taiwanese election expenditure system on the basis of equality. This thesis consists of 19 sections in 6 chapters. Keywords：public official, election expenditure, election regulation