Page 1
FEDERAL ELECTION
CAMPAIGN LAWS
Compiled by
THE
FEDERAL
ELECTION
COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 2004
Page 2
FEDERAL ELECTION
CAMPAIGN LAWS
Compiled by
THE
FEDERAL
ELECTION
COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 2004
Page 3
THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20463
COMMISSIONERS
BRADLEY A. SMITH, Chairman
ELLEN L. WEINTRAUB, Vice Chair
DAVID M. MASON, Commissioner
DANNY L. McDONALD, Commissioner
SCOTT E. THOMAS, Commissioner
MICHAEL E. TONER, Commissioner
First Printing, September 2004
Page 4
PREFACE
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has prepared this new
compilation of Federal campaign laws as an informative service to the
general public.
There are three major sections of this new compilation:
1. FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN LAWS: The text of the
“Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971,” as amended, the
“Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act,” as amended, and the “Presi-
dential Primary Matching Payment Account Act,” as amended, contained
in titles 2 and 26 of the United States Code. (See Amendments in 1974,
1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993,
1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2004: Pub. L. No. 93-443,
Pub. L. No. 94-283, Pub. L. No. 95-216, Pub. L. No. 96-187, Pub. L.
No. 97-51, Pub. L. No. 98-63, Pub. L. No. 98-355, Pub. L. No. 98-620,
Pub. L. No. 100-352, Pub. L. No. 101-194, Pub. L. No. 101-280, Pub.
L. No. 102-90, Pub. L. No. 102-393, Pub. L. No. 103-66, Pub. L. No.
103-272, Pub. L. No. 104-79, Pub. L. No. 104-88, Pub. L. No. 104-287,
Pub. L. No. 106-58, Pub. L. No. 106-346, Pub. L. No. 107-155 and Pub.
L. No. 108-199 respectively.)
2. APPENDIX: The text of additional provisions of the United
States Code, which are not in the FECA but may be relevant to persons
involved with Federal elections, current through September 2004.
3. INDEX TO TITLES 2 and 26: A special index prepared by the
FEC.
This compilation is presented in codified form, with FECA section
numbers converted to United States Code section numbers, in order to
facilitate cross-references between this pamphlet, the United States Code,
and the United States Code Annotated.
Readers should be aware that some terms in the law are defined
differently in different titles. Thus, the meaning of a particular term may
not be consistent throughout this pamphlet. Note, therefore, the defini-
tions provided in each title or section.
Copies of this compilation are available from the Federal Election
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20463.
Page 5
iv
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CONTENTS
UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 2. THE CONGRESS
Chapter 14—Federal Election Campaigns ...........................................................................1
Subchapter 1—Disclosure of Federal Campaign Funds ......................................................1
Sec. 431.
Definitions ......................................................................................1
(1)
Election ...........................................................................................1
(2)
Candidate ........................................................................................1
(3)
Federal office ..................................................................................1
(4)
Political committee .........................................................................1
(5)
Principal campaign committee .......................................................2
(6)
Authorized committee ....................................................................2
(7)
Connected organization ..................................................................2
(8)
Contribution ....................................................................................2
(9)
Expenditure .....................................................................................6
(10)
Commission ....................................................................................9
(11)
Person .............................................................................................9
(12)
State ..............................................................................................9
(13)
Identification ...................................................................................9
(14)
National committee .........................................................................9
(15)
State committee ..............................................................................9
(16)
Political party ................................................................................10
(17)
Independent expenditure ...............................................................10
(18)
Clearly identified ..........................................................................10
(19)
Act ............................................................................................10
(20)
Federal election activity ................................................................10
(21)
Generic campaign activity ............................................................11
(22)
Public communication ..................................................................11
(23)
Mass mailing ................................................................................11
(24)
Telephone bank .............................................................................12
(25)
Election cycle ...............................................................................12
(26)
Personal funds ...............................................................................12
Sec. 432.
Organization of political committees ...........................................13
(a)
Treasurer: vacancy; official authorizations ...................................13
(b)
Account of contributions; segregated funds .................................13
(c)
Recordkeeping ..............................................................................13
(d)
Preservation of records and copies of reports ...............................14
(e)
Principal and additional campaign committees; designa tions,
status of candidate, authorized committees, etc. .....................14
(f)
Filing with and receipt of designations, statements, and
reports by principal campaign committee ...............................15
(g)
Filing with and receipt of designations, statements, and
re ports by the Secretary of Senate; forwarding to
Commission; filing requirements with Commission;
public inspection and preservation of designations, etc. .........15
(h)
Campaign depositories; designations, maintenance of
ac counts, etc.; petty cash fund for disbursements;
record of disburse ments ..........................................................16
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Federal Election Campaign Laws
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(i)
Reports and records, compliance with requirements
based on best efforts ................................................................16
Sec. 433.
Registration of political committees .............................................16
(a)
Statements of organizations ..........................................................16
(b)
Contents of statement ...................................................................17
(c)
Change of information in statements ............................................17
(d)
Termination, etc., requirements and authorities ...........................17
Sec. 434.
Reporting requirements ................................................................17
(a)
Receipts and disbursements by treasurers of political
com mittees; filing requirements ..............................................17
(b)
Contents of reports ........................................................................25
(c)
Statements by other than political committees; filing;
contents; indices of expenditures ............................................30
(d)
Use of facsimile machines and electronic mail to file
independent expenditure statements ........................................30
(e)
Political committee .......................................................................31
(f)
Disclosure of electioneering communications ..............................32
(g)
Time for reporting certain expenditures .......................................35
(h)
Reports from inaugural committee ...............................................36
Sec. 437.
Reports on convention financing ..................................................36
Sec. 437c.
Federal Election Commission .......................................................37
(a)
Establishment; membership; term of office; vacancies;
qualifications; compensation; chairman and
vice chairman ..........................................................................37
(b)
Administration, enforcement, and formulation of policy;
exclusive jurisdiction of civil enforcement; Congressional
authorities or functions with respect to elections for
Federal office ...........................................................................38
(c)
Voting requirements; delegation of authorities .............................39
(d)
Meetings .......................................................................................39
(e)
Rules for conduct of activities; judicial notice of seal; principal
office ........................................................................................39
(f)
Staff director and general counsel; appointment and
com pensation; appointment and compensation of
personnel and procure ment of intermittent services
by staff director; use of assistance, per sonnel, and facilities
of Federal agencies and departments; counsel for defense
of actions .................................................................................39
Sec. 437d.
Powers of the Commission ...........................................................40
(a)
Specific authorities .......................................................................40
(b)
Judicial orders for compliance with subpoenas and orders
of Commission; contempt of court ..........................................41
(c)
Civil liability for disclosure of information ..................................41
(d)
Concurrent transmissions to Congress or member of
budg et estimates, etc.; prior submission of legislative
recommendations, testimony, or comments on legislation ......41
(e)
Exclusive civil remedy for enforcement .......................................42
Sec. 437f.
Advisory opinions ........................................................................42
(a)
Requests by persons, candidates, or authorized committees; sub-
ject matter; time for response ..................................................42
(b)
Procedures applicable to initial proposal of rules or
regu lations, and advisory opinions ..........................................42
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(c)
Persons entitled to rely upon opinions; scope of protection
for good faith reliance .............................................................42
(d)
Requests made public; submission of written comments
by interested public .................................................................43
Sec. 437g.
Enforcement ..................................................................................43
(a)
Administrative and judicial practice and procedure .....................43
(b)
Notice to persons not filing required reports prior to
insti tution of enforcement action; publication of
identity of persons and unfiled reports ....................................49
(c)
Reports by Attorney General of apparent violations ....................49
(d)
Penalties; defenses; mitigation of offenses ...................................49
Sec. 437h.
Judicial review ..............................................................................51
Sec. 438.
Administrative provisions .............................................................51
(a)
Duties of Commission ..................................................................51
(b)
Audits and field investigations ......................................................52
(c)
Statutory provisions applicable to forms and information-gather-
ing activities ............................................................................53
(d)
Rules, regulations, or forms; issuance, procedures
applicable, etc. .........................................................................53
(e)
Scope of protection for good faith reliance upon rules or
regulations ...............................................................................54
(f)
Promulgation of rules, regulations, and forms by Commission
and Internal Revenue Service; report to Congress on
cooperative efforts ...................................................................54
Sec. 438a.
Maintenance of website of election reports ..................................54
(a)
In general ......................................................................................54
(b)
Election-related report ..................................................................54
(c)
Coordination with other agencies .................................................54
Sec. 439.
Statements filed with State officers; “appropriate State”
defined; duties of State officers; waiver of duplicate filing
requirements for States with electronic access ........................55
Sec. 439a.
Use of contributed amounts for certain purposes .........................56
(a)
Permitted uses ...............................................................................56
(b)
Prohibited use ...............................................................................56
Sec. 439c.
Authorization of appropriations ....................................................57
Sec. 441a.
Limitations, contributions, and expenditures ................................57
(a)
Dollar limits on contributions .......................................................57
(b)
Dollar limits on expenditures by candidates for office
of President of the United States .............................................61
(c)
Increases on limits based on increases in price index ..................62
(d)
Expenditures by national committee, State committee,
or subordinate committee of State committee in
connection with general election campaign of candidates
for Federal office .....................................................................63
(e)
Certification and publication of estimated voting age
popu lation ................................................................................64
(f)
Prohibited contributions and expenditures ...................................64
(g)
Attribution of multi-State expenditures to candidate’s
expenditure limitation in each State .......................................65
(h)
Senatorial candidates ....................................................................65
(i)
Increased limit to allow response to expenditures from personal
funds ........................................................................................65
(j)
Limitation on repayments of personal loans .................................68
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Sec. 441a-1.
Modification of certain limits for House candidates in response
to personal fund expenditures of opponents ............................69
(a)
Availability of increased limit ......................................................69
(b)
Notification of expenditures from personal funds ........................71
Sec. 441b.
Contributions or expenditures by national banks,
corporations, or labor organizations ........................................72
(c)
Rules relating to electioneering communications .........................76
Sec. 441c.
Contributions by government contractors ....................................78
(a)
Prohibition ....................................................................................78
(b)
Separate segregated funds .............................................................78
(c)
“Labor organization” defined .......................................................78
Sec. 441d.
Publication and distribution of statements and solicitations;
charge for newspaper or magazine space ................................79
(c)
Specification .................................................................................79
(d)
Additional requirements ...............................................................80
Sec. 441e.
Contributions by foreign nationals ...............................................81
(a)
Prohibition ....................................................................................81
Sec. 441f.
Contributions in name of another prohibited ................................82
Sec. 441g.
Limitation on contribution of currency .........................................82
Sec. 441h.
Fraudulent misrepresentation of campaign authority ...................82
(a)
In general ......................................................................................82
(b)
Fraudulent solicitation of funds ....................................................82
Sec. 441i.
Soft money of political parties ......................................................83
(a)
National committees .....................................................................83
(b)
State, district and local committees ..............................................83
(c)
Fundraising costs ..........................................................................85
(d)
Tax-exempt organizations .............................................................85
(e)
Federal candidates ........................................................................86
(f)
State candidates ............................................................................87
Sec. 441k.
Prohibition of contributions by minors .........................................87
Sec. 442.
Authority to procure technical support and other services
and incur travel expenses; payment of such expenses .............88
Subchapter II. General Provisions ................................................................................88
Sec. 451.
Extension of credit by regulated industries; regulations ...............88
Sec. 452.
Prohibition against use of certain Federal funds for
election activities .....................................................................88
Sec. 453.
State laws affected ........................................................................89
(a)
In general ......................................................................................89
(b)
State and local committees of political parties .............................89
Sec. 454.
Partial invalidity ............................................................................89
Sec. 455.
Period of limitations .....................................................................89
TITLE 26. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
Chapter 95—Presidential Election Campaign Fund ..........................................................91
Sec. 9001.
Short title ......................................................................................91
Sec. 9002.
Definitions ....................................................................................91
Sec. 9003.
Condition for eligibility for payments ..........................................93
(a)
In general ......................................................................................93
(b)
Major parties .................................................................................94
(c)
Minor and new parties ..................................................................94
(d)
Withdrawal by candidate ..............................................................94
(e)
Closed captioning requirement .....................................................95
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Sec. 9004.
Entitlement of eligible candidates to payments ............................95
(a)
In general ......................................................................................95
(b)
Limitations ....................................................................................96
(c)
Restrictions ...................................................................................96
(d)
Expenditures from personal funds ................................................97
(e)
Definition of immediate family ....................................................97
Sec. 9005.
Certification by Commission ........................................................97
(a)
Initial certifications .......................................................................97
(b)
Finality of certifications and determinations ................................97
Sec. 9006.
Payments to eligible candidates ....................................................97
(a)
Establishment of campaign fund ..................................................97
(b)
Payments from the fund ................................................................98
(c)
Insufficient amounts in fund .........................................................98
Sec. 9007.
Examinations and audits; repayments ..........................................98
(a)
Examinations and audits ...............................................................98
(b)
Repayments ..................................................................................98
(c)
Notification ...................................................................................99
(d)
Deposit of repayments ..................................................................99
Sec. 9008.
Payments for presidential nominating conventions ......................99
(a)
Establishment of accounts ............................................................99
(b)
Entitlement to payments from the fund ......................................100
(c)
Use of funds ................................................................................100
(d)
Limitation of expenditures ..........................................................101
(e)
Availability of payments .............................................................101
(f)
Transfer to the fund ....................................................................101
(g)
Certification by Commission ......................................................102
(h)
Repayments ................................................................................102
Sec. 9009.
Reports to Congress; regulations ................................................102
(a)
Reports ........................................................................................102
(b)
Regulations, etc. ........................................................................103
(c)
Review of regulations .................................................................103
Sec. 9010.
Participation by Commission in judicial proceedings ................103
(a)
Appearance by counsel ...............................................................103
(b)
Recovery of certain payments ....................................................104
(c)
Declaratory and injunctive relief ................................................104
(d)
Appeal .........................................................................................104
Sec. 9011.
Judicial review ............................................................................104
(a)
Review of certification, determination, or other action
by the Commission ................................................................104
(b)
Suits to implement chapter .........................................................104
Sec. 9012.
Criminal penalties .......................................................................105
(a)
Excess expenses ..........................................................................105
(b)
Contributions ..............................................................................105
(c)
Unlawful use of payments ..........................................................106
(d)
False statements, etc. ..................................................................106
(e)
Kickbacks and illegal payments .................................................106
(f)
Unauthorized expenditures and contributions ............................107
(g)
Unauthorized disclosure of information .....................................108
Sec. 9013.
Effective date of chapter .............................................................108
Chapter 96—Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account .....................................108
Sec. 9031.
Short title ....................................................................................108
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Sec. 9032.
Definitions ..................................................................................108
Sec. 9033.
Eligibility for payments ..............................................................110
(a)
Conditions ...................................................................................110
(b)
Expense limitation; declaration of intent; minimum
contributions ..........................................................................111
(c)
Termination of payments ............................................................111
Sec. 9034.
Entitlement of eligible candidates to payments ..........................112
(a)
In general ....................................................................................112
(b)
Limitations ..................................................................................112
Sec. 9035.
Qualified campaign expense limitations .....................................112
(a)
Expenditure limitations ..............................................................112
(b)
Definition of immediate family ..................................................113
Sec. 9036.
Certification by Commission ......................................................113
(a)
Initial certifications .....................................................................113
(b)
Finality of determinations ...........................................................113
Sec. 9037.
Payments to eligible candidates ..................................................113
(a)
Establishment of account ............................................................113
(b)
Payments from the matching payment account ..........................113
Sec. 9038.
Examinations and audits; repayments ........................................114
(a)
Examinations and audits .............................................................114
(b)
Repayments ................................................................................114
(c)
Notification .................................................................................114
(d)
Deposit of repayments ................................................................114
Sec. 9039.
Reports to Congress; regulations ................................................115
(a)
Reports ........................................................................................115
(b)
Regulations, etc. .........................................................................115
(c)
Review of regulations .................................................................115
Sec. 9040.
Participation by Commission in judicial proceedings ................116
(a)
Appearance by counsel ...............................................................116
(b)
Recovery of certain payments ....................................................116
(c)
Injunctive relief ...........................................................................116
(d)
Appeal .........................................................................................116
Sec. 9041.
Judicial review ............................................................................116
(a)
Review of agency action by the Commission .............................116
(b)
Review procedures ......................................................................116
Sec. 9042.
Criminal penalties .......................................................................117
(a)
Excess campaign expenses .........................................................117
(b)
Unlawful use of payments ..........................................................117
(c)
False statements, etc. ..................................................................117
(d)
Kickbacks and illegal payments .................................................117
APPENDIX
This appendix includes the text of additional provisions of the United States Code
which are not in the FECA, but may be relevant to persons involved with Federal elections;
the material is current through September 2004.
TITLE 18. CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 29—Elections and Political Activities ................................................................119
Sec. 594.
Intimidation of voters .................................................................119
Sec. 595.
Interference by administrative employees of Federal, State, or
Territorial Governments ........................................................119
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Sec. 597.
Expenditures to influence voting ................................................120
Sec. 598.
Coercion by means of relief appropriations ...............................120
Sec. 599.
Promise of appointment by candidate ........................................120
Sec. 600.
Promise of employment or other benefit for political activity ....121
Sec. 601.
Deprivation of employment or other benefit for political
contribution ...........................................................................121
Sec. 602.
Solicitation of political contributions .........................................122
Sec. 603.
Making political contributions ....................................................123
Sec. 604.
Solicitation from persons on relief .............................................123
Sec. 605.
Disclosure of names of persons on relief ....................................123
Sec. 606.
Intimidation to secure political contributions .............................124
Sec. 607.
Place of solicitation ....................................................................124
(a)
Prohibition ..................................................................................124
Sec. 610.
Coercion of political activity ......................................................125
Sec. 1001.
Statements of entries generally ...................................................125
Sec. 1505.
Obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies and
committees ............................................................................126
TITLE 26. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
(Selected Excerpts)
Sec. 84.
Transfer of appreciated property to political organization .........127
(a)
General rule ................................................................................127
(b)
Basis of property .........................................................................127
(c)
Political organization defined .....................................................127
Sec. 271.
Debts owed by political parties, etc. ...........................................127
(a)
General rule ................................................................................127
(b)
Definitions ..................................................................................127
(c)
Exception ....................................................................................128
Sec. 276.
Certain indirect contributions to political parties .......................128
(a)
Disallowance of deduction .........................................................128
(b)
Definitions ..................................................................................128
(c)
Cross reference ...........................................................................129
Sec. 501.
Exemption from tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc. ............129
(a)
Exemption from taxation ............................................................129
(c)
List of exempt organizations ......................................................129
Sec. 527.
Political organizations ................................................................130
(a)
General rule ................................................................................130
(b)
Tax imposed ................................................................................130
(c)
Political organization taxable income defined ............................131
(d)
Certain uses not treated as income to candidate .........................131
(e)
Other definitions .........................................................................132
(f)
Exempt organization which is not political organization must
include certain amounts in gross income ..............................134
(g)
Treatment of newsletter funds ....................................................135
(h)
Special rule for principal campaign committees ........................135
(i)
Organizations must notify Secretary that they are section 527
organizations .........................................................................136
(j)
Required disclosure of expenditures and contributions ..............137
(k)
Public availability of notices and reports ....................................140
(l)
Authority to waive ......................................................................140
Sec. 2501.
Imposition of [gift] tax ...............................................................141
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Federal Election Campaign Laws
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(a)
Taxable transfers .........................................................................141
Sec. 6012.
Persons required to make returns of income ..............................141
(a)
General rule ................................................................................141
Sec. 6033.
Returns by exempt organizations ................................................142
(a)
Organizations required to file .....................................................142
(e)
Special rules relating to lobbying activities ................................143
(g)
Returns required by political organizations ................................144
Sec. 6096.
Designation by individuals [to Presidential Election
Campaign Fund] ....................................................................145
(a)
In general ....................................................................................145
(b)
Income tax liability .....................................................................145
(c)
Manner and time of designation .................................................145
Sec. 6104.
Publicity of information required from certain exempt
organizations and certain trusts .............................................146
(a)
Inspection of applications for tax exemption
or notice of status ...................................................................146
(b)
Inspection of annual information returns ....................................147
(c)
Publication to State officials .......................................................147
(d)
Public inspection of certain annual returns, reports,
applications for exemption and notices of status ...................148
Sec. 6113.
Disclosure of nondeductibility of contributions .........................150
(a)
General rule ................................................................................150
(b)
Organizations to which section applies ......................................150
(c)
Fundraising solicitation ..............................................................151
Sec. 6652.
Failure to file certain information returns, registration
statements, etc. ......................................................................151
(c)
Returns by exempt organizations and by certain trusts ..............151
Sec. 6710.
Failure to disclose that contributions are nondeductible ............153
(a)
Imposition of penalty ..................................................................153
(b)
Reasonable cause exception .......................................................153
(c)
$10,000 limitation not to apply where intentional disregard ......154
(d)
Day on which failure occurs .......................................................154
TITLE 28. JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 163—Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures ...............................................................155
Sec. 2462.
Time for commencing proceedings ............................................155
Nt. Sec. 2462. Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 ..........155
TITLE 36. PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES,
CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS
Chapter 5—Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies ...............................................................159
Sec. 510.
Disclosure of and prohibition on certain donations ....................159
(a)
In general ....................................................................................159
(b)
Disclosure ...................................................................................159
(c)
Limitation ...................................................................................159
Sec. 511.
Authorization of appropriations ..................................................159
(a)
Authorization ..............................................................................159
(b)
Payment ......................................................................................160
TITLE 47. TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES,
AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
Chapter 5—Wire or Radio Communication ....................................................................161
Sec. 312.
Administrative sanctions ............................................................161
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(a)
Revocation of station license or construction permit .................161
Sec. 315.
Candidates for public office ........................................................161
(a)
Equal opportunities requirement; censorship prohibition;
allowance of station use; news appearances exception;
public interest; public issues discussion opportunities ..........161
(b)
Broadcast media rates. Charges ..................................................162
(c)
Definitions ..................................................................................163
(d)
Rules and regulations ..................................................................163
(e)
Political record ............................................................................163
(f)
Certfication .................................................................................164
(g)
Definitions ..................................................................................164
INDEX
Special Index to Titles 2 and 26 of FECA of 1971 as Amended .....................................165
Page 15
TITLE 2. THE CONGRESS
Chapter 14—Federal Election Campaigns
Subchapter 1—Disclosure of Federal Campaign Funds
§ 431. Definitions
When used in this Act:
(1) The term “election” means—
(A) a general, special, primary, or runoff election;
(B) a convention or caucus of a political party which
has authority to nominate a candidate;
(C) a primary election held for the selection of delegates
to a national nominating convention of a political party; and
(D) a primary election held for the expression of a prefer-
ence for the nomination of individuals for election to the office
of President.
(2) The term “candidate” means an individual who seeks
nomination for election, or election, to Federal office, and for purposes
of this paragraph, an individual shall be deemed to seek nomination
for election, or election—
(A) if such individual has received contributions ag-
gregating in excess of $5,000 or has made expenditures ag-
gregating in excess of $5,000; or
(B) if such individual has given his or her consent to
another person to receive contributions or make expendi tures
on behalf of such individual and if such person has received
such contributions aggregating in excess of $5,000 or has made
such expenditures aggregating in excess of $5,000.
(3) The term “Federal office” means the office of Presi dent
or Vice President, or of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
(4) The term “political committee” means—
(A) any committee, club, association, or other group of
persons which receives contributions aggregating in excess of
$1,000 during a calendar year or which makes expenditures
aggregating in excess of $1,000 during a cal endar year; or
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Federal Election Campaign Laws
2
(B) any separate segregated fund established under the
provisions of section 441b(b) of this title; or
(C) anylocal committee of a political party which receives
contributions aggregating in excess of $5,000 dur ing a calendar
year, or makes payments exempted from the definition of con-
tribution or expenditure as defined in para graphs (8) and (9) of
this section aggregating in excess of $5,000 during a calendar
year, or makes contributions ag gregating in excess of $1,000
during a calendar year or makes expenditures aggregating in
excess of $1,000 during a calendar year.
(5) The term “principal campaign committee” means a political
committee designated and authorized by a candidate under section
432(e)(1) of this title.
(6) The term “authorized committee” means the prin cipal
campaign committee or any other political committee au thorized by
a candidate under section 432(e)(1) of this title to receive contribu-
tions or make expenditures on behalf of such candidate.
(7) The term “connected organization” means any organization
which is not a political committee but which directly or indirectly
establishes, administers, or financially supports a political commit-
tee.
(8) (A) The term “contribution” includes—
(i) any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or de posit
of money or anything of value made by any per son for
the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office;
or
(ii) the payment by any person of compensa tion
for the personal services of another person which are
rendered to a political committee without charge for any
purpose.
(B) The term “contribution” does not include–
(i) the value of services provided without com-
pensation by any individual who volunteers on behalf of
a candidate or political committee;
(ii) the use of real or personal property, includ ing
a church or community room used on a regular basis by
members of a community for noncommercial purposes,
and the cost of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily
provided by an individual to any candidate or any politi-
cal committee of a political party in rendering voluntary
personal services on the individual’s residential premises
§ 431
Page 17
Title 2. The Congress
3
or in the church or community room for candidate-related
or political party-related activities, to the extent that the
cumu lative value of such invitations, food, and beverages
provided by such individual on behalf of any single can-
didate does not exceed $1,000 with respect to any single
election, and on behalf of all political commit tees of a
political party does not exceed $2,000 in any calendar
year;
(iii) the sale of any food or beverage by a ven dor
for use in any candidate’s campaign or for use by or on
behalf of any political committee of a political party at a
charge less than the normal comparable charge, if such
charge is at least equal to the cost of such food or bever-
age to the vendor, to the extent that the cumulative value
of such activity by such vendor on behalf of any single
candidate does not exceed $1,000 with respect to any
single election, and on behalf of all political committees
of a political party does exceed $2000 in any calendar
year;
(iv) any unreimbursed payment for travel expenses
made by any individual on behalf of any can didate or any
political committee of a political party, to the extent that
the cumulative value of such activ ity by such individual
on behalf of any single can didate does not exceed $1,000
with respect to any sin gle election, and on behalf of all
political committees of a political party does not exceed
$2,000 in any cal endar year;
(v) the payment by a State or local committee of
a political party of the costs of preparation, dis play, or
mailing or other distribution incurred by such commit-
tee with respect to a printed slate card or sam ple ballot,
or other printed listing, of 3 or more can didates for any
public office for which an election is held in the State
in which such committee is organized, except that this
clause shall not apply to any cost incurred by such com-
mittee with respect to a dis play of any such listing made
on broadcasting sta tions, or in newspapers, magazines, or
similar types of general public political advertising;
(vi) any payment made or obligation incurred by a
corporation or a labor organization which, under section
441b(b) of this title, would not constitute an expenditure
by such corporation or labor organization;
§ 431
Page 18
Federal Election Campaign Laws
4
(vii) any loan of money by a State bank, a fed erally
chartered depository institution, or a depository institu-
tion the deposits or accounts of which are in sured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation . . .
1
or the National
Credit Union Administration, other than any overdraft made
with respect to a checking or savings account, made in
accordance with applica ble law and in the ordinary course
of business, but such loan—
(I) shall be considered a loan by each en-
dorser or guarantor, in that proportion of the un paid
balance that each endorser or guarantor bears to the
total number of endorsers or guaran tors;
(II) shall be made on a basis which
assures repayment, evidenced by a written in strument,
and subject to a due date or amortiza tion schedule;
and
(III) shall bear the usual and customary interest
rate of the lending institution;
(viii) any legal or accounting services rendered to or
on behalf of—
2
(I) any political committee of a political party
if the person paying for such services is the regular
employer of the person rendering such services
and if such services are not attributable to activities
which directly further the election of any designated
candidate to Federal office; or
(II) an authorized committee of a can didate
or any other political committee, if the person pay-
ing for such services is the regular employer of the
individual rendering such serv ices and if such services
are solely for the pur pose of ensuring compliance
with this Act or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26,
but amounts paid or incurred by the regular employer
§ 431
1
The omitted language is an obsolete reference to the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance
Corporation, which in past years provided account or deposit insurance. This corporation
was abolished and its functions transferred in 1989. See note at 12 U.S.C. § 1437 for a
fuller explanation.
2
Section 103(b) of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), Pub. L. No.
107-155, amended section 431(8)(B) to strike subsection (viii) (regarding donations to
party building funds) and redesignate subsections (ix) through (xv) as subsections (viii)
through (xiv) respectively. This amendment is effective as of November 6, 2002.
Page 19
Title 2. The Congress
5
for such legal or accounting services shall be reported
in accordance with section 434(b) of this title by the
committee receiving such services;
(ix) the payment by a State or local committee of
a political party of the costs of campaign materials (such
as pins, bumper stickers, handbills, brochures, posters,
party tabloids, and yard signs) used by such committee in
connection with volunteer activities on behalf of nominees
of such party: Provided, That —
(1) such payments are not for the cost of
campaign materials or activities used in connec tion
with any broadcasting, newspaper, maga zine, bill-
board, direct mail, or similar type of general public
communication or political adver tising;
(2) such payments are made from con-
tributions subject to the limitations and prohibi tions
of this Act; and
(3) such payments are not made from con-
tributions designated to be spent on behalf of a
particular candidate or particular candidates;
(x) the payment by a candidate, for nomination
or election to any public office (including State or local
office), or authorized committee of a candidate, of the <