Jonah Patel
In the United States, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) by setting campaign contribution limits for individuals and groups, and overseeing public funding used in presidential elections. The FEC has exclusive jurisdiction over the civil enforcement of federal campaign finance law, and any US citizen can submit a complaint if they believe a violation has occurred or is about to occur. In California, the Political Reform Act requires candidates and committees to file campaign statements by specified deadlines, disclosing contributions received and expenditures made. These documents are public and may be audited by the FPPC and FTB to ensure that voters are fully informed and improper practices prohibited.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Federal Election Commission (FEC) |
| Role | Enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) |
| Function | Sets campaign contribution limits for individuals and groups; Oversees public funding used in presidential elections; Administers federal campaign finance laws |
| Applicable Laws | Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA); Internal Revenue Code; Federal laws on voting, voter fraud, intimidation, ballot access, and election results |
| Reporting Requirements | Candidates must report names of contributors, contribution amounts, and how funds are spent; Political committees must file periodic campaign finance reports disclosing receipts and disbursements |
| Prohibited Contributions | Foreign nationals; Federal government contractors; Incorporated charitable organizations; Contributions from certain trusts; Contributions from certain types of organizations and individuals |
| Permitted Contributions | PACs established by corporations, labor organizations, incorporated membership organizations, trade associations, and national banks; Contributions from permissible sources by state PACs, unregistered local party organizations, and nonfederal campaign committees |
| Enforcement | Office of General Counsel handles enforcement cases, known as Matters Under Review (MURs); Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program available for some matters |
| State-Specific Rules | State laws govern ballot appearance; California's Political Reform Act requires candidates and committees to file campaign statements disclosing contributions and expenditures, which are subject to audit by FPPC and FTB |
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What You'll Learn
- The Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces campaign finance laws
- The FEC sets contribution limits for individuals and groups
- Campaigns must disclose the names of contributors and amounts
- Charities are prohibited from making contributions to federal elections
- Federal employees must not display pictures of partisan candidates
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces campaign finance laws
In the United States, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces campaign finance laws. The FEC administers and oversees the enforcement of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA), which limits the amount of money individuals and political organizations can donate to a candidate running for federal office. The FEC has exclusive jurisdiction over the civil enforcement of federal campaign finance law, and it sets campaign contribution limits for individuals and groups, as well as overseeing public funding used in presidential elections.
The FEC's role is to ensure compliance with campaign finance laws, and it has the power to impose limits on campaign contributions to candidates for president, Senate, and the House of Representatives. Candidates are required to report the names of individuals and organizations contributing to their campaigns, as well as how they spend the money they receive. These campaign finance reports are available to the public, although the FEC prohibits using individual contributor information for soliciting contributions or for any commercial purpose.
The FEC also specifies which organizations and individuals are prohibited from donating to federal candidates. For example, incorporated charitable organizations are prohibited from making contributions in connection with federal elections, and campaigns may not accept or solicit contributions from federal government contractors or foreign nationals. Additionally, contributions from trusts are only permitted if neither the committee nor any affiliated organization exercises control over the undistributed trust corpus or interest amount.
The FEC's enforcement cases can originate from audits, complaints, referrals from other government agencies, or self-submissions, and they are primarily handled by the Office of General Counsel as Matters Under Review (MURs). The FEC's website provides information on permissible and prohibited contributions, as well as guidelines for individuals and groups looking to support federal candidates.
In addition to the FEC's role at the federal level, state and local laws also govern campaign finance and disclosure laws. For example, in California, the Political Reform Act requires candidates and committees to file campaign statements by specified deadlines, disclosing contributions received and expenditures made. These documents are subject to audit to ensure compliance with campaign rules and to prohibit improper practices.
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The FEC sets contribution limits for individuals and groups
In the United States, 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 give to a candidate running for federal office. The FEC also sets contribution limits for individuals and groups.
The FEC enforces limits on contributions to a candidate's campaign, with separate limits for different types of contributions. For instance, there is a $100 limit on cash contributions, and any anonymous cash contributions are limited to $50. Additionally, a national party committee and its Senatorial campaign committee may contribute up to $62,000 combined per campaign to each Senate candidate.
The FEC also specifies that contributions to an individual for the purpose of furthering that individual's selection as a delegate to a nominating convention are not subject to any amount limitations. Similarly, funds solicited for a recount are not considered contributions under the Act but are still subject to the Act's amount limitations.
The FEC's rules also cover joint contributions, which are defined as contributions made by more than one person using a single check or other instrument. While each individual has a separate contribution limit, joint contributors may combine their contributions as long as each contributor provides their signature in writing.
In California, the Political Reform Act requires candidates and committees to file campaign statements by specified deadlines, disclosing contributions received and expenditures made. These documents are public and may be audited to ensure compliance with campaign rules and to prohibit improper practices.
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Campaigns must disclose the names of contributors and amounts
In the United States, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA). FECA requires candidates for president, Senate, and the House of Representatives to disclose the names of individuals and political organizations contributing to their campaigns, as well as the amounts contributed. This information is made public and can be accessed through the FEC's database.
The FEC also sets contribution limits for individuals and groups, and oversees public funding used in presidential elections. The Act's amount limitations and record-keeping requirements apply to all contributions, including loans and in-kind contributions. For example, if a contributor pays $100 for a ticket to a fundraising dinner, the entire $100 is considered a contribution, even if the meal only cost the committee $30. Similarly, the purchase of a $20 campaign t-shirt that only cost the campaign $5 to produce is considered a $20 contribution.
In addition to monetary contributions, candidates must also disclose non-monetary contributions such as titles, tracking identifiers, access to events or activities, and mementos (e.g. photographs with the candidate). Joint contributions, where multiple individuals contribute using a single check, are also allowed, as long as each contributor's signature is included and the contribution represents each individual's personal funds.
The FEC's regulations also cover the use of contributor information. While the FEC makes campaign finance disclosure reports available to the public, the Act prohibits the sale or use of individual donor information, including names and addresses, for the purpose of soliciting contributions or for any commercial purpose. Candidates may, however, use contributor information to inform donors that an unauthorized committee has solicited them without the candidate's permission.
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Charities are prohibited from making contributions to federal elections
In the United States, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is responsible for ensuring that political candidates comply with campaign finance laws. The FEC enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA), which sets limits on the amount of money individuals and political organizations can contribute to a candidate running for federal office.
While individuals are permitted to donate to candidates and their authorized committees, they must adhere to specified contribution limits. These limits vary depending on the office being sought and the type of donor. For instance, individuals can contribute to primary elections, but only up to a certain amount, with a maximum of $250 counted towards federal matching funds.
Additionally, certain entities are prohibited from contributing to federal candidates. This includes corporations, labor organizations, and national banks. Funds from corporate separate segregated funds, however, are allowed. It is important to note that campaigns are not allowed to retain contributions that exceed the specified limits and must follow special procedures to handle such funds.
Furthermore, there are specific regulations for Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). If an LLC is treated as a corporation, it cannot donate to candidate committees but can establish a separate segregated fund or contribute to independent expenditure-only PACs. On the other hand, if an LLC is considered a partnership, it is subject to partnership contribution rules and limits.
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Federal employees must not display pictures of partisan candidates
The Justice Management Division provides guidelines for federal employees' political activities. These include restrictions on posting links to political websites or pages that solicit campaign contributions, becoming a "friend" or "liking" partisan candidates or groups on Facebook (with restrictions on privacy settings), and following partisan candidates or groups on Twitter (also with restrictions on privacy settings). Federal employees are also prohibited from engaging in political activity while on duty, in a federal facility, wearing a uniform or official insignia, or using a federally-owned or leased vehicle. This includes posting comments or content on social media or blogs that advocate for or against a partisan candidate or group.
There are, however, two exceptions to the rule regarding the display of partisan candidate photographs. Federal employees may display such pictures if the photo was displayed in advance of the election season and if the photo is personal, depicting a relationship such as attendance at a wedding. In this case, the employee must also have no political purpose in displaying the photograph. If a federal employee or their spouse runs for public office, the employee should notify their ethics official to advise them on the relevant ethics rules.
It is important to note that federal employees retain the right to express personal opinions about candidates and political parties outside of the workplace, using their personal devices and accounts. However, they must be cautious when posting on social media and adjust their privacy settings to ensure that their postings do not link political commentary with their official title or position.
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Frequently asked questions
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) in the US.
The FEC enforces campaign contribution limits for individuals and groups, oversees public funding used in presidential elections, and has exclusive jurisdiction over the civil enforcement of federal campaign finance law.
Federal law puts limits on campaign contributions to candidates for president and Congress. The act limits the amount of money individuals and political organizations can give to a candidate running for federal office. Campaigns are prohibited from accepting contributions from certain organizations and individuals, including foreign nationals, charitable organizations, and federal government contractors.
Enforcement cases are primarily handled by the Office of General Counsel and are known as Matters Under Review (MURs). Violating the restrictions on political campaign activity for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
