View source for Federal Election Campaign Act

{{Short description|U.S. federal law regulating political campaign spending and fundraising}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{About|the campaign act|other uses|Federal Employees' Compensation Act|and|FECA (disambiguation)}}
The '''Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971''' ('''FECA''', {{USStatute|92|225|86|3|1972|02|07}}, {{USC|52|30101}} ''et seq.'') is the primary [[United States federal law]] regulating [[Campaign finance|political campaign fundraising and spending]]. The law originally focused on creating limits for campaign spending on communication media, adding additional penalties to the criminal code for election law violations, and imposing disclosure requirements for federal [[political campaign]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1971 |title=Campaign Spending: Major Reform Bill Neared Passage |journal=Congressional Quarterly Almanac |volume=27 |pages=875–876}}</ref> The Act was signed into law by President [[Richard Nixon]] on February 7, 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-signing-the-federal-election-campaign-act-1971 |title=Richard Nixon: "Statement on Signing the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.," February 7, 1972 |author1=Peters, Gerhard |author2=Woolley, John T |work=The American Presidency Project |publisher=University of California - Santa Barbara}}</ref>

<blockquote>WHEN I vetoed the bill to limit expenditures on political broadcasting in October of 1970, I pointed out that the goal of controlling campaign expenditures was a highly laudable one. The chief problem with the bill then before me was that it did not limit overall costs but applied only to radio and television. As I put it then, it plugged "only one hole in a sieve."

Since that time, the House and Senate have worked to design a better bill. I believe they have succeeded in that endeavor. S. 382, the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, limits the amount candidates for Federal elective offices may spend on advertising, not just on radio and television, but through all communications media. It limits contributions by candidates and their families to their own campaigns. It provides for full reporting of both the sources and the uses of campaign funds, both after elections and during campaigns. By giving the American public full access to the facts of political financing, this legislation will guard against campaign abuses and will work to build public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.

The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is a realistic and enforceable bill, an important step forward in an area which has been of great public concern. Because I share that concern, I am pleased to give my approval to this bill.</blockquote>

[[Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974.|In 1974]], the act was amended to create the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC) and to further regulate campaign spending.   The act was amended again in 1976, in response to the provisions ruled unconstitutional by ''[[Buckley v. Valeo]],'' including the structure of the FEC and the limits on campaign expenditures, and again in 1979 to allow parties to spend unlimited amounts of [[Campaign finance in the United States|hard money]] on activities like increasing voter turnout and registration. In 1979, the FEC ruled that political parties could spend unregulated or "soft" money for non-federal administrative and party building activities. Later, this money was used for candidate-related issue ads, which led to a substantial increase in soft money contributions and expenditures in elections. This in turn led to passage of the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act]] of 2002 ("BCRA"), effective on January 1, 2003, which banned soft money expenditure by parties. Some of the legal limits on giving of "hard money" were also changed by BCRA.

== Background ==
As early as 1905, [[Theodore Roosevelt]] argued in favor of [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]] and called for a ban of corporate contributions for political purposes. In response, the [[United States Congress]] passed the [[Tillman Act of 1907]], which banned the corporate contributions. Further regulation followed in the [[Federal Corrupt Practices Act]] enacted in 1910, and subsequent amendments in 1910 and 1925, the [[Hatch Act of 1939|Hatch Act]], the [[Smith–Connally Act]] of 1943, and the [[Taft–Hartley Act]] in 1947. These acts sought to regulate corporate and union spending in campaigns for federal office, and mandated public disclosure of campaign donors.

== Legislative history ==
In 1970, President Nixon vetoed the Political Broadcast Act of 1970, a bill that aimed to establish laws regulating campaign spending on television and radio.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Goldman |first1=Jerry |last2=Berry |first2=Jeffrey M. |title=Congress and Public Policy: a Study of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 |journal=Harvard Journal on Legislation |volume=10}}</ref> President Nixon claimed that the Political Broadcast Act did not sufficiently limit campaign expenditures, noting that it "plugged only one hole in a sieve."<ref>Nixon, R. (1972, February 7). ''Presidential Signing Statement, Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.'' Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. https://li.proquest.com/legislativeinsight/docview?id=CR-1971-1130-PL92-225-H&p=183B846A58B&uid=1046{{subscription required}}</ref> This bill was an attempt to regulate election spending, but despite having the necessary membership to override the veto, Senate Democrats did not pass the law without the President's signature.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weaver |first1=Warren |title=Congress Braces for a Battle Over Campaign Spending Curbs |id={{ProQuest|119291485}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/02/15/archives/congress-braces-for-a-battle-over-campaign-spending-curbs.html |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1971 }}</ref> Subsequently, Senator [[Mike Mansfield]] introduced S. 382, later to be known as FECA, to the Senate on January 26, 1971 in the [[92nd United States Congress|92nd Congress]].

The Act was first introduced to the Senate Subcommittee on Communications of the Committee on Commerce on March 2, 1971 by Senator [[John Pastore]].<ref>Hearings before the Subcommittee on Communications of the Committee on Commerce (1971, March 2). ''United States Senate.'' U.S. Government Printing Office. https://li.proquest.com/legislativeinsight/docview?id=HRG-1971-COM-0049&p=183B82D5B54&uid=1009{{subscription required}}</ref> After passing the Senate Committee on Commerce by a vote of 18–0,<ref>Report of the Senate Committee on Commerce on S. 382 (1971, May 6). ''United States Senate.'' U.S. Government Printing Office. https://li.proquest.com/legislativeinsight/docview?id=PL92-225&index=1&rsid=183B82D5334&docType=LEG_HIST&resultsClick=true{{subscription required}}</ref> the Act passed the Senate floor on August 5, 1971 by a vote of 88-2.<ref>Congressional Record (1971, August 5). ''United States Senate.'' U.S. Government Printing Office. https://li.proquest.com/legislativeinsight/docview?id=PL92-225&index=1&rsid=183B82D5334&docType=LEG_HIST&resultsClick=true{{subscription required}}</ref>

In the House, the Act passed on November 30, 1971 by a vote of 372–23.<ref>Congressional Record (1971, November 30). ''United States House of Representatives.'' U.S. Government Printing Office. https://li.proquest.com/legislativeinsight/docview?id=CR-1971-1130-PL92-225-H&p=183B846A58B&uid=1046{{subscription required}}</ref> Because the House version was not identical to the Senate version, a [[United States congressional conference committee|conference committee]] was called. On December 14, 1971, the Senate agreed to the conference report,<ref name=":1">Congressional Record (1971, December 14). ''United States Senate''. U.S. Government Printing Office. https://li.proquest.com/legislativeinsight/docview?id=CR-1971-1130-PL92-225-H&p=183B846A58B&uid=1046{{subscription required}}</ref> and on January 19, 1972, the House agreed to the conference report,<ref name=":3">Congressional Record (1972, January 19). ''United States House of Representatives''. U.S. Government Printing Office. https://li.proquest.com/legislativeinsight/docview?id=PL92-225&index=1&rsid=183B880B1A5&docType=LEG_HIST&resultsClick=true{{subscription required}}</ref> sending the bill to President Nixon.

==Original provisions==

=== Campaign communications ===
The Act limited campaign expenditures for broadcast media, newspaper advertisement, and telephone calls to $0.10 per voter in the district they're running in when adjusted for inflation using the [[consumer price index]].<ref name=":1" /> The Act also limited the amount campaigns could spend on broadcast media to 60% of their total campaign spending limitation. Additionally, the Act required broadcast and non-broadcast media to charge the lowest unit rate for advertisements for all candidates within the 45 days leading up to a primary election and the 60 days leading up to a general election.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=December 25, 1971 |title=House Delays Vote on Campaign Spending Control Bill |journal=Congressional Quarterly |issue=29 |pages=2668–2670}}</ref> Despite several debates on the issue, the Act did not repeal Section 315 of the [[Communications Act of 1934]], a requirement that media companies offer equal broadcast time to candidates for federal office.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weaver |first1=Warren |title=Campaign Spending Curb Is Sent to Nixon by House |id={{ProQuest|119423709}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/20/archives/campaign-spending-curb-is-sent-to-nixon-by-house-president-expected.html |work=The New York Times |date=20 January 1972 }}</ref>

=== Criminal code amendments ===
Promises of rewards or gifts were prohibited under FECA, meaning that a candidate for office could not offer employment or other benefits in exchange for donations or other forms of political aid. The Act also placed a cap on the amount a candidate could spend of their own money on their campaign at $50,000 for Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, $35,000 for Senate candidates, and $25,000 for candidates for the House of Representatives.<ref name=":0" />

Violations of the policies outlined in the Act carried fines of up to $1,000 and up to one year of imprisonment, or both.<ref name=":2">Public Law 92-225 (1972, February 7). ''United States of America''. U.S. Government Printing Office https://li.proquest.com/legislativeinsight/docview?id=CR-1971-1130-PL92-225-H&p=183B846A58B&uid=1046{{subscription required}}</ref>

=== Disclosure requirements ===
The Act required candidates for federal office to disclose the expenditures they made and contributions they received if those amounts totaled more than $100. Candidates were also required to disclose the structure and membership of their political committees if they intended to receive and spend more than $1,000 during a calendar year.<ref name=":0" /> Political committees were required to keep track of the name, occupation, address, and amount that any person contributes if that amount exceeded $10.<ref name=":2" /> Additionally, the Act outlawed making contributions in the name of another person or knowingly accepting contributions that are being made in the name of another person.<ref name=":2" />

Reports were to be sent to the [[Comptroller General of the United States|Comptroller General]] of the [[Government Accountability Office]] for Presidential elections, the Secretary of the Senate for Senatorial elections, and the Clerk of the House for House of Representatives elections.<ref name=":3" /> Candidates were also required to report finances to the Secretary of State's office in the state they are running for elected office in.<ref name=":1" />

==1974 amendments==
Following the 1972 Presidential election, Congress amended the FECA in 1974 to set limits on contributions by individuals, political parties and PACs. The 1974 amendments also established an independent agency, the [[Federal Election Commission]] (FEC) to enforce the law, facilitate disclosure and administer the public funding program. The FEC commenced in 1975 and administered the first publicly funded presidential election in 1976.

In 1976, the [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] in ''[[Buckley v. Valeo]]'' struck down several key provisions of the 1974 amendments, including limits on spending by candidate campaigns, limits on the ability of citizens to spend money independently of a campaign, and limits on the amount of money a candidate could donate to his or her own campaign. The case also substantially narrowed the category of independent political expenditures subject to mandatory donor disclosure.

==1976 and 1979 amendments==
Further amendments to the FECA were made in 1976 to conform the law with the ruling in ''Buckley v. Valeo''. Major amendments were also made in 1979 to streamline the disclosure process and expand the role of political parties.

== 2002 amendments==
In 2002, major revisions to the FECA were made by the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act]], more commonly referred to as "McCain–Feingold." However, major portions of McCain-Feingold were struck down by the Supreme Court on constitutional grounds in ''[[Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc.]]'' (2007), ''[[Davis v. Federal Election Commission]]'' (2008) and ''[[Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission]]'' (2010). The Citizens United ruling also struck down FECA's complete ban on corporate and union independent spending, originally passed as part of the [[Taft–Hartley Act]] in 1947.<ref name="Historical Background of Federal Campaign Finance Law">[http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/fecfeca.shtml#Historical_Background The FEC and the Federal Campaign Finance Law]</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Campaign finance in the United States]]
*''[[Buckley v. Valeo]]''
*''[[McConnell v. Federal Election Commission]]''
* [[Michael_Cohen_(lawyer)#Conviction_on_campaign_finance,_tax_evasion,_and_other_charges|''Attorney Michael Cohen conviction on Trump 2016 POTUS campaign finance charge'']]

==References==
{{Reflist}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Herbers |first=John |date=October 16, 1974 |title=Bill to reform campaign funds signed by ford despite doubts: Watergate cited. |url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/bill-reform-campaign-funds-signed-ford-despite/docview/119965799/se-2 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

== External links ==
* [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/subtitle-III/chapter-301 As codified in 52 U.S.C. chapter 301] of the [[United States Code]] from the [[Legal Information Institute|LII]]
* [https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title52/subtitle3/chapter301&edition=prelim As codified in 52 U.S.C. chapter 301] of the [[United States Code]] from the [[United States House of Representatives|US House of Representatives]]
* [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-985/uslm/COMPS-985.xml Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971] as amended ([https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-985/pdf/COMPS-985.pdf PDF]/[https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/COMPS-985/ details]) in the [[United States Government Publishing Office|GPO]] [https://www.govinfo.gov/help/comps Statute Compilations collection]
* [https://www.govinfo.gov/link/statute/92/public/225?link-type=pdf&.pdf Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971] as enacted ([https://www.govinfo.gov/link/statute/92/public/225?link-type=details details]) in the [[United States Statutes at Large|US Statutes at Large]]
* [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-11/chapter-I/subchapter-A Title 11 Chapter I Subchapter A] (Federal Election Commission general regulations) of the [[Code of Federal Regulations]]
* [http://www.fec.gov Federal Election Commission]
* [http://www.realcampaignreform.org/ RealCampaignReform.org] - archived site links to various related court briefs and judicial opinions
* [http://www.PoliticalMoneyLine.com/ CQ MoneyLine] - Congressional Quarterly campaign funding news site
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/ OpenSecrets.org] - [[OpenSecrets]] site for tracking campaign contributions and expenditures
* [http://www.followthemoney.org/ National Institute on Money in State Politics] - information on money in state politics
* [http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/ Campaign Legal Center] - analysis and reviews on campaign finance, communication and ethics
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20041128090353/http://www.publicampaign.org/ Public Campaign]}} - organization advocating public funding of campaigns
* [http://www.commoncause.org/ Common Cause] - organization advocating campaign finance regulations
* [http://www.citizen.org/ Public Citizen] - organization advocating campaign finance regulations
* [http://www.campaignfreedom.org Center for Competitive Politics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328071325/http://www.campaignfreedom.org/ |date=March 28, 2014 }} - organization opposed to campaign finance regulations
* [https://maplight.org/ MapLight] - organization that exposes money's influence on politics to promote political reform
* {{cite journal |last1=Curry |first1=Rebecca |title=Making law with lawsuits: understanding judicial review in campaign finance policy |journal=Suffolk University Law Review |date=22 March 2013 |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=416–450 |id={{Gale|A346009236}} |ssrn=2109364 |url=https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.suffolk.edu/dist/3/1172/files/2013/05/Curry_Lead_Web.pdf }}

{{Presidency of Richard Nixon}}
{{Presidency of Gerald Ford}}
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[[Category:1971 in American law]]
[[Category:92nd United States Congress]]
[[Category:United States federal election legislation|Election Campaign Act]]
[[Category:Federal elections of the United States]]
[[Category:Campaign finance in the United States]]
[[Category:Federal Election Commission]]
[[Category:Campaign finance reform in the United States]]