Legal Definitions - Federal Election Commission

The FEC, or Federal Election Commission, is an independent agency of the U.S. government responsible for regulating the financing of federal elections. Its primary role is to ensure fairness and transparency in how money is raised and spent in presidential and congressional campaigns, as well as by political parties. The FEC achieves this by administering campaign finance laws, overseeing public funding for presidential candidates, reviewing financial disclosure reports from campaigns, and investigating and prosecuting violations of these regulations.

• Example 1: A presidential candidate who has met specific fundraising thresholds decides to accept public matching funds for their primary election campaign. The FEC would meticulously review the candidate's fundraising records to verify they qualify and then authorize the disbursement of these federal funds, ensuring the money is used according to established rules.

  How this illustrates the term: This demonstrates the FEC's function in administering public funding for presidential campaigns and certifying payments to qualifying candidates.

• Example 2: During a general election, a watchdog group files a complaint with the FEC, alleging that a congressional campaign received a large, undisclosed donation from a corporation, which is prohibited by law. The FEC would then launch an investigation, subpoenaing financial records and interviewing campaign staff to determine if a violation occurred and, if so, impose appropriate penalties or fines.

  How this illustrates the term: This highlights the FEC's role in enforcing laws requiring public disclosure of financial activities and investigating alleged violations of campaign finance regulations.

• Example 3: A major national political party is required to regularly submit detailed reports to the FEC outlining all contributions received, including donor names and addresses, and all expenditures made, such as advertising costs or staff salaries. The FEC reviews these reports to ensure accuracy and compliance with disclosure requirements, making this information publicly available for transparency.

  How this illustrates the term: This demonstrates the FEC's responsibility for enforcing laws requiring public disclosure of financial activities for political parties and auditing campaign expenditures through mandatory reporting.