The corrupting role of moneyed interests on the public realm has been a constant source of concern in modern democracies. In the United States, the unusually visible role of corporate money in election cycles and lobbying battles has contributed to public discontent with democracy. Even many otherwise apolitical Americans recognize that corporate actors' ability to invest millions in election and lobbying outcomes comes at the direct expense of their own ability to shape policies that impact them.

Public accountability measures to safeguard Americans from corporate capture must encompass more than mere transparency rules. Durable reforms must include explicit limits on corporate spending on electoral campaigns and lobbying fights in both Capitol Hill and statehouses. Beyond this, reforms must take aim at subtler, but equally significant channels of influence, such as revolving-door hiring practices that undermine the integrity of federal agencies tasked with corporate oversight.