Legal Definitions - FEC

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent agency of the United States government. Its primary responsibility is to regulate campaign finance in federal elections, which include races for President, Vice President, and members of Congress. The FEC enforces laws related to political contributions, expenditures, and public disclosure requirements to ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of the FEC:

• Example 1: Campaign Contribution Limits

  A prominent business executive wishes to donate a substantial amount of money to a candidate running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The executive learns that federal law sets specific limits on how much an individual can contribute to a candidate's campaign per election cycle.

  This illustrates the FEC's role in setting and enforcing contribution limits. The agency ensures that no single donor can exert excessive financial influence over a federal election campaign by restricting the maximum amount of money they can give.

• Example 2: Disclosure of Campaign Finances

  A political action committee (PAC) spends a significant amount of money on advertisements supporting a particular presidential candidate. By law, the PAC must regularly file detailed reports with the government outlining its donors, the amounts contributed, and how the funds were spent.

  This demonstrates the FEC's function in promoting transparency. The agency collects and makes public these financial disclosure reports, allowing the public to see who is funding political campaigns and how that money is being used, thereby holding campaigns and political organizations accountable.

• Example 3: Investigating Campaign Finance Violations

  During a hotly contested Senate race, a rival campaign alleges that the incumbent's campaign illegally coordinated its advertising efforts with an independent expenditure group, which is generally prohibited. The rival campaign files a complaint with the appropriate federal authority.

  This highlights the FEC's enforcement power. Upon receiving such a complaint, the FEC would investigate the allegations to determine if a violation of federal campaign finance law occurred. If a violation is found, the FEC has the authority to impose penalties, such as fines, to ensure compliance with the law.