Politics in the United States is increasingly viewed as the purview of wealthy individuals with key corporate and political connections. For the average American citizen, entering the political arena — whether as a candidate for mayor, state insurance commissioner, or U.S. senator — may seem like a daunting and futile task.

A significant part of successful political candidacy is the ability to navigate the laws and regulations surrounding elections, political advertising, debates, and campaign financing.

If you are a first-time or third-party candidate who lacks a team of legal and political experts to guide you through the process, it is important to educate yourself about the laws regulating political speech — particularly media access, which, as a relatively unknown candidate, is likely to be key to your success.

This website, created by a mass communications graduate student at the University of Florida, contains links to helpful legal resources regarding political broadcast advertising, debate access, and campaign financing. Use the cited websites, articles, and blogs to assist you in preparing a strong and legally sound political campaign. Some of the resources include information about how to work for change in the U.S. electoral system.