Jonah Patel
Political campaign donation data is publicly available information that can be used to understand the influence of money in politics. In the United States, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) collects data on federal campaigns and candidates, while organizations like OpenSecrets (formerly the Center for Responsive Politics) and FollowTheMoney.org provide searchable databases for tracking donations at the state and local levels. These tools allow users to explore contributions from individuals, organizations, and special interest groups, as well as their influence on elections and policy outcomes. With detailed reports and analysis, these platforms promote transparency and provide insights into the complex world of political financing.
Characteristics and Values Table for Political Campaign Donation Data
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Data Source | Federal Election Commission (FEC), National Institute on Money in Politics, Center for Responsive Politics, OpenSecrets |
| Data Coverage | Federal and state-level candidates and committees, 38 states that elect judges, presidential candidates, U.S. House and Senate races |
| Search Criteria | Recipient or donor name, donor occupation, employer, zip code, contribution amount, committee receiving contribution, date of contribution, etc. |
| Data Availability | Current through the 2024 election year, limited contribution data for 2024 on OpenSecrets |
| Data Format | Searchable database, reports, statistics, in-depth analyses, workshops and training |
| Data Accessibility | Free and accessible to the public |
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What You'll Learn
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent agency of the United States government that enforces U.S. campaign finance laws and oversees U.S. federal elections. It was established in 1974 through amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act, with its main duties being to disclose campaign finance information, enforce provisions of the law such as limits and prohibitions on contributions, and oversee the public funding of presidential elections. The FEC is led by six commissioners who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, with the chair rotating among the commissioners each year.
The FEC maintains a database of individuals who have made contributions to federally registered political committees, with data including the contributor's name, employer or occupation, location, date and amount of the contribution, and the committee receiving the funds. The database can be searched using various filters to narrow the results, such as searching for contributions to a particular committee on a specific date or by a contributor's employer.
In addition to enforcing campaign finance laws, the FEC also provides resources and support for candidates and committees. This includes information on legal requirements, fundraising, and compliance with FEC regulations. The FEC website offers a range of tools and guidance to help candidates navigate the federal campaign process effectively.
The FEC has faced some criticism for its membership structure, which can lead to frequent deadlocks on 3-3 votes. This has resulted in certain investigations not being pursued and has been cited as a challenge to the commission's effectiveness. Despite this, the FEC plays a crucial role in regulating campaign finances and ensuring compliance with federal election laws.
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Nonprofit, nonpartisan organisations
The website allows users to trace donations to politicians and political committees at the federal and state levels, as well as explore the influence of organisations spending billions of dollars to lobby Congress and federal agencies. It also provides insights into "dark money" groups, which spend significant amounts of money on elections without disclosing their sources of funding.
In addition to OpenSecrets, the National Institute on Money in Politics and the Center for Responsive Politics have joined forces to create a website called FollowTheMoney.org, which offers state campaign finance data up to the 2024 election year. This website integrates with OpenSecrets, providing federal data at OpenSecrets.org.
These nonprofit, nonpartisan organisations provide valuable resources for individuals interested in understanding the role of money in politics and its impact on elections and policy-making processes. They offer transparency and insights into the financial aspects of politics, strengthening democratic processes and informing citizens, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
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State-level donations
State-level political campaign donation data is available through various sources, each offering different insights and functionalities. Here are some reliable sources for state-level donation information:
OpenSecrets
OpenSecrets, a collaboration between the National Institute on Money in Politics and the Center for Responsive Politics, is a comprehensive resource for tracking money in U.S. politics. It offers data on campaign contributions and lobbying activities at both the state and federal levels. Users can search for state or federal candidates to uncover their donors and supporting industries. Additionally, OpenSecrets provides insights into the influence of "dark money" groups and super PACs, enhancing transparency in political financing. The website also features educational tools and resources to help users understand political finance dynamics.
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
The FEC maintains a database of individuals who have contributed to federally registered political committees. Users can search for contributors by name, employer, occupation, location (including state), contribution date, and amount. This level of detail allows for a nuanced understanding of political funding at the state level. The FEC database also enables filtering options to narrow down searches, such as contributions to a specific committee on a particular date.
Northwestern University Library
Northwestern University's library provides a wealth of resources for researching campaign finance data. One notable resource is the Sunlight Organization's website, which documents campaign and political spending by industries, businesses, political groups, and lobbyists, both domestic and foreign. This site allows users to track contributions to individual candidates and ballot measures across all 50 states, with data on ballot measures dating back to 2002 and state profiles of funds raised during election cycles going back to 1986.
State-Specific Sources
Some states, such as Illinois, offer dedicated tools for browsing political contributions within their jurisdiction. The Illinois State Board of Elections provides data on campaign contributions by Political Action Committees (PACs) and donations received by these PACs, broken down by sector, industry, and unique PAC. These state-specific sources offer a more localized perspective on political donations and can provide detailed information on contributions during specific election cycles.
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Foreign agents
To access data on foreign agents and their political campaign donations, there are several key sources to consider. The first is the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which is a US law that requires individuals and entities who are acting as agents of foreign principals to disclose their relationship and activities to the US government. The FARA website, maintained by the US Department of Justice, provides a searchable database of all registered foreign agents. This database includes information on the foreign principal, the nature of the agent's work, and any financial transactions or contributions made in connection with their activities. It is a crucial resource for understanding foreign influence in US politics and identifying potential sources of foreign campaign donations.
Another important source is the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which regulates and discloses campaign finance information in federal elections. The FEC website offers a range of tools and databases to search for political contributions, including those made by foreign agents. By using the FEC's advanced search options, you can filter contributions to include only those from foreign nationals or foreign-owned corporations, for example. This allows for a targeted examination of foreign money in US politics and provides insight into any potential circumvention of campaign finance laws.
In addition to FARA and FEC disclosures, the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) operates OpenSecrets.org, a website dedicated to tracking money in US politics. OpenSecrets provides comprehensive data on political donations, including a specific section on foreign agents. This section aggregates data from FARA filings and offers an analysis of foreign agent spending on lobbying and public relations efforts. It also identifies any campaign contributions made by foreign agents, providing a clear picture of their financial influence.
Furthermore, the Sunlight Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on government transparency, maintains a Foreign Influence Database. This database compiles information from various sources, including FARA filings and congressional disclosures, to offer a comprehensive view of foreign influence efforts. It includes data on foreign agents, lobbyists, and contractors, as well as any financial transactions they report. The Sunlight Foundation also provides tools and tutorials to help users navigate the data effectively.
These sources collectively provide a robust framework for researching and understanding foreign agent activity in US political campaigns. By utilizing these resources, it is possible to identify patterns of foreign influence, assess compliance with disclosure laws, and shed light on any potential misuse of campaign funds. This information is crucial for journalists, researchers, and the public to hold politicians and foreign interests accountable, ensuring the integrity of the democratic process.
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Public relations firms
OpenSecrets:
OpenSecrets, now known as the National Institute on Money in Politics, is a non-partisan research organization that tracks money in U.S. politics. They offer a comprehensive database, Donor Lookup, which allows users to trace donations to politicians and political committees at the federal and state levels. You can search by client, firm, industry, or issue to see who is spending to shape policies. OpenSecrets also provides organization profiles that include data on campaign contributions and lobbying activities from thousands of corporations, trade associations, and advocacy groups. This includes public relations firms that have hired former government staffers for lobbying.
Federal Election Commission (FEC):
The FEC is a government agency that regulates and discloses campaign finance information. They provide a database with records of receipts from individuals who contribute at least $200 to political campaigns. While this database does not include smaller contributions, it offers insight into the larger donations made by individuals, which may include those associated with public relations firms.
FollowTheMoney.org:
This website is a collaboration between the National Institute on Money in Politics and the Center for Responsive Politics. It offers state-level campaign finance data, including federal data through OpenSecrets.org. The site provides insights into campaign expenditures and how candidates are spending donor money.
International Sources:
For information on political campaign donations outside of the U.S., organizations like International IDEA provide valuable resources. They offer a Political Finance Database that covers various aspects of political financing, including regulations, reporting requirements, and the influence of private money in different countries.
By utilizing these sources, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of political campaign donations made by public relations firms and their impact on the political landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) collects data on federal campaigns and candidates. You can search the FEC database by donor name, location, employer, occupation, date, amount, or committee recipient.
For state-level data, you can use the National Institute on Money in Politics' tool FollowTheMoney.org, which covers donations to state and local campaigns.
Another source is OpenSecrets, a non-profit and non-partisan organisation that tracks money in US politics. It has a searchable campaign donation database that allows you to see which campaigns or candidates a donor has contributed to.
OpenSecrets has a tool called Get Local!, which allows you to select a state and then pull up reports by donor, candidate, metro area, and more. FollowTheMoney.org also allows you to select a state and office type to narrow down donation details for specific races.
Political campaign donation data includes the names of donors, the amounts they contributed, and the recipients of those contributions. It may also include information about the donors' employers, occupations, and locations.
Political donations are a matter of public record. You can search for individuals by name in the FEC database or use the search functions on OpenSecrets or FollowTheMoney.org.
