What Is the Federal Election Commission?

Elections must be free, open, and fair to have any meaning. Voting and election laws help protect the right to vote. It is important to know who is funding candidates and where their money is coming from. Voting rights include protections for election campaigns and finance.

The Federal Election Commission is the federal agency that regulates campaign finance laws. The FEC administers and enforces campaign financing for federal government elections. This includes elections in the House, Senate, and Presidency. This provides an overview of the FEC and its functions. For more information about the FEC, talk to a voting rights attorney. 

The Federal Election Commission

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency of the United States. The FEC monitors and enforces campaign finance laws in federal elections. Federal campaign finance laws require disclosure of campaign finance information for federal elections. This includes presidential campaigns, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. 

The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) and Congress established the FEC. The FEC’s duties include enforcing campaign limits and restrictions on specific contributions. The commission can vote on complaints, give advisory opinions, and enforce penalties. 

The president nominates, and the Senate confirms the six members of the FEC. Two commissioners are appointed every two years and serve a six-year term. Under federal law, no more than three of the six commissioners can be from the same political party (Democrat or Republican).

What Are the Campaign Fund Limits?

Under federal election laws, there are campaign limits for federal candidates, party committees, and PACs. For 2023 to 2024, the candidate committee limit for individuals is $3,300 per election. A multicandidate PAC can donate up to $5,000 per election.

Contribution limits apply separately to each election, including a primary and general election. The annual campaign contribution limits change every year and are indexed for inflation. You can find more about current campaign finance limits at FEC.gov.

What Is a Political Action Committee?

A political action committee (PAC) is a group that raises money for political campaigns. PACs generally represent business or ideological interests. PACs have to register with the FEC. This includes providing the organization’s name, treasurer, and connected organizations. There are limits to how much PACs can contribute to a candidate. 

A super PAC is a different type of contributor. It does not contribute to individual candidates or political parties. Instead, super PACs run their own ads and communications to support or defeat a general election initiative or primary candidate. There are no campaign funding limits for super PACs.

How Much Can Corporations Donate to Campaigns and Nominees?

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission changed the laws regarding corporate election financing. The Court ruled that freedom of speech under the First Amendment prohibits the restriction of corporate independent expenditures for political campaigns.

What Are Exempt Party Activities?

Election party committees can spend any amount of money on exempt party activities. These activities benefit federal candidates but do not count toward contributions or expenditures. Exempt party activities include slate cards, sample ballots, campaign materials, and voter registration expenditures. 

Is There Public Funding for Presidential Elections?

Qualified presidential candidates can get money from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. Public funding of presidential elections comes from the U.S. Treasury. American tax dollars match contributions from individuals during a primary campaign and fund the major party general election nominees. Public funding comes from checking off the Presidential Election Campaign Fund on your federal tax return. 

How Can You File a Complaint With the FEC?

You can file a complaint with the FEC if you have information about federal election campaign finance law violations. The FEC will review your complaint to see if there are FEC violations. If the FEC finds election campaign violations, penalties can include monetary civil penalties. You can report complaints directly to the FEC at their official website: FEC.gov. The FEC is the government agency responsible for enforcing federal election finance laws. The FEC does not administer election campaign laws for state and local elections. If you have concerns about financing for local elections, consult your state election campaign agency. Contact a local civil rights attorney to find out about your legal options.