Malcolm Rivera
The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) enforces limits on the amount of money individuals and political organisations can donate to candidates running for federal office. These limits are indexed for inflation every two years, based on the change in the cost of living since 2001. The per-election limits on contributions to candidates are in effect for the two-year election cycle beginning the day after the general election and ending on the date of the next general election. Campaigns are prohibited from retaining contributions that exceed these limits and must follow special procedures for handling such funds. While the Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces these rules at the federal level, states have their own limits and committees that govern campaign contributions at the local level.
When does the donation limit reset for political campaigns?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Limit on contributions made by persons to candidates | $3,300 per election, per candidate |
| Limit on contributions made by persons to national party committees | $41,300 per calendar year |
| Limit on contributions made by certain political party committees to Senate candidates | $57,800 per campaign |
| Limit on contributions made by a state candidate or state officeholder to a committee controlled by another state candidate or state officeholder | $5,900 per election |
| Date of contribution receipt | The date the campaign or a person acting on the campaign's behalf receives the contribution |
| Date of receipt for electronic contributions | The date on which the committee obtains the contributor's authorization of the transaction |
| Date of receipt for in-kind contributions | The date the goods or services are provided to the committee |
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What You'll Learn
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
FECA introduced limits on campaign expenditures for broadcast media, newspaper advertisements, and telephone calls, with adjustments for inflation. It also mandated that media companies offer equal broadcast time to candidates for federal office and prohibited promises of rewards or gifts in exchange for donations. Additionally, the Act banned contributions made in another person's name and required candidates to report finances to the Secretary of State's office in their respective states.
FECA has undergone several amendments since its enactment. In 1974, following the Watergate scandal, it was amended to create the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and further regulate campaign spending. The FEC is tasked with enforcing the law, facilitating disclosure, and administering the public funding program. The Act was amended again in 1976, in response to the Supreme Court striking down several provisions, and in 1979 to allow parties to spend unlimited amounts of hard money on specific activities.
In 2002, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, commonly known as "McCain-Feingold," made significant revisions to FECA. However, portions of these amendments were later struck down by the Supreme Court, including the complete ban on corporate and union independent spending. FECA continues to be a key piece of legislation in regulating campaign finance in the United States, with ongoing adjustments to contribution limits to account for inflation.
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Designated and undesignated contributions
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA), which limits the amount of money individuals and political organisations can donate to a candidate running for federal office. The FEC strongly recommends that campaigns encourage contributors to designate their contributions for specific elections.
Designated contributions ensure that the contributor's intent is conveyed to the campaign. In the case of contributions from political committees, written designations also promote consistency in reporting and avoid the possible appearance of excessive contributions on reports. Designated contributions count against the donor's contribution limits for the election that is named. For example, a contribution designated for the primary and made before that election will not be subject to the net debts outstanding rule, even if the campaign receives the contribution after the primary.
Undesignated contributions, on the other hand, count against the donor's contribution limits for the candidate's next election. An undesignated contribution made after the candidate has won the primary but before the general election, for instance, applies toward the contribution limit for the general election. In the case of the candidate who has lost the primary, an undesignated contribution made after the primary automatically applies toward the limit for the next election in which they can run. An undesignated contribution made on or before election day counts against the donor's limit for that election, even if the date of receipt is after election day and even if the campaign has no net debts outstanding.
A written designation is required when a nonconnected committee wants a contribution to apply to a future election other than the next one. For example, a committee may make a contribution to a candidate's general election campaign before the primary election, but the committee's check or an accompanying statement must say "General" to count toward the general election limit. When making a contribution to retire a candidate's debts from a past election campaign, a nonconnected committee must designate the contribution for the appropriate election.
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Date of receipt and deposit
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971 limits the amount of money individuals and political organisations can give to a candidate running for federal office. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces these laws and requires candidates for president, Senate, and the House of Representatives to report the names of individuals and organisations contributing to their campaigns, as well as the amounts.
The date a contribution is received is significant. This date, rather than the date of deposit, is used for reporting and contribution limit purposes. The date of receipt is the date the campaign, or someone acting on its behalf, receives the contribution. For electronic contributions, the date of receipt is when the committee obtains the contributor's transaction authorisation. The treasurer should keep a record of the receipt, including information that associates the contribution with its deposit in the political committee's campaign depository, such as a batch number. For in-kind contributions, the date of receipt is when the goods or services are provided to the committee, even if the contributor pays after they are provided.
All contributions must be deposited within 10 days of receipt, but the date of deposit is not used for reporting or contribution limit purposes. The FEC strongly recommends that campaigns encourage contributors to designate their contributions for specific elections. This ensures that the contributor's intent is clear and promotes consistency in reporting, avoiding the appearance of excessive contributions. Designated contributions count against the donor's contribution limits for the specified election, while undesignated contributions count against the donor's limit for the candidate's next election.
In the event that a campaign receives excessive contributions, it must follow special procedures for handling such funds. Independent-expenditure-only political committees, or "Super PACs", may accept unlimited contributions, including from corporations and labour organisations.
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State campaign contribution limits
Campaign finance laws in the United States govern the amount of money that can be donated to political campaigns, with limits varying depending on the type of office and the committee receiving the contribution. These laws aim to prevent corruption and ensure fair elections by limiting the influence of large donors. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA), which sets contribution limits for candidates running for federal office. FECA requires candidates to disclose the names of individuals and organisations contributing to their campaigns, along with the amounts donated.
Contribution limits for state campaigns can be found on state government websites or election commission portals. These limits are typically adjusted periodically to account for inflation and changes in the cost of campaigning. It is essential for donors to stay informed about the contribution limits in their respective states and to comply with the designated limits to avoid legal repercussions.
While state campaign contribution limits cap the amount an individual can donate to a specific candidate or committee, they may still donate to multiple candidates within the same election. Additionally, independent expenditure-only political committees, often referred to as "Super PACs," can accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, and labour organisations. These Super PACs, however, are not allowed to coordinate directly with the campaigns they support.
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Political Party Committees
The contribution limits for political party committees are adjusted for inflation every two years, based on the change in the cost of living since 2001. For the 2023-2024 election cycle, the limits on contributions from persons to national party committees have been increased to $41,300 per calendar year. Additionally, national party committees can establish accounts to cover specific expenses, such as presidential nominating conventions, election recounts, and headquarters buildings. The contribution limits for these accounts are higher, allowing up to $45,000 per year from multicandidate committees and $123,900 per year from other contributors.
At the state level, contribution limits vary depending on the office, the committee, and the contributor. As of January 1, 2021, a state campaign contribution limit applies by default to city and county candidates unless specific laws are already in place. State committees, including political parties and PACs, can receive contributions exceeding the limits as long as they are not used for state candidate contributions.
The date of receipt of a contribution is crucial for reporting purposes and the application of rules. For electronic contributions, the date of receipt is when the committee obtains the contributor's transaction authorization. In-kind contributions are considered received on the date the goods or services are provided, regardless of when the bill is paid.
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Frequently asked questions
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971 limits the amount of money individuals and political organizations can donate to a candidate running for federal office. The contribution limits for 2023-2024 are $3,300 per election, per candidate for contributions made by persons to candidates, $41,300 per calendar year for contributions made by persons to national party committees, and $57,800 per campaign for contributions made by certain political party committees to Senate candidates. These limits are indexed for inflation every two years.
The per-election limits on contributions to candidates are in effect for the two-year election cycle beginning the day after the general election and ending on the date of the next general election.
Yes, you can donate to more than one candidate in a federal election.
Campaigns are prohibited from retaining contributions that exceed the limits. In the event that a campaign receives excessive contributions, it must follow special procedures for handling such funds, including designating contributions for specific elections and reporting the names of contributors and amounts to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
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