Campaign Finance Enforcement
Advocating for the Federal Election Commission to Enforce Election Law
The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) is charged with enforcing federal campaign finance laws. Even before the Supreme Court gutted more than sixty years’ of rules in the Citizens United v. FEC decision, the FEC regularly failed to do its job. The FEC is a politicized and paralyzed agency that lacks the leadership needed to regulate our elections fairly. President Obama’s appointees for the FEC have been blocked in a Senate confirmation standoff. It’s time for a change at the FEC.
Resources on Campaign Finance Enforcement
- Coalition Letter Supporting the “Disclosing Foreign Influence Act”, (H.R. 4170), December 18, 2017
- FEC Comments on Notice 2011-02, Internet Communication Disclaimers, November 1, 2017
- Public Citizen Heartily Applauds ‘We the People Democracy Reform Act of 2017’, September 28, 2017
- Facebook’s Self-Regulation Isn’t Enough; FEC, FCC, SEC Must Protect Our Elections, September 22, 2017
- Reintroduction of the DISCLOSE Act Aims to Curb Foreign Influence in Our Elections, July 18, 2017
- D.C. Office of Campaign Finance Finds Merit in Public Citizen’s Complaint, Fines Bowser Campaign $13,000, June 6, 2017
- Brandon Todd Campaign Fine Highlights Need for Reforms, May 31, 2017
- U.S. Supreme Court Affirms ‘Soft Money’ Ban of the 2002 McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Law, May 22, 2017
- Trump’s Executive Order Is Citizens United 2.0, Threatens Integrity of Religious and Charitable Sectors, May 4, 2017
- Roiled in Partisan Deadlock, Federal Election Commission Is Failing, April 11, 2017
- Welcome Step: D.C. Fair Elections Reintroduced, March 21, 2017
- U.S. Supreme Court’s Assumption That Outside Groups Are Independent Is Proven False at the State and Local Levels, March 17, 2017
- Report: The Foundation of Citizens United Is in Ruins (PDF), March 17, 2017
- Proposals to Alter Johnson Amendment Could Turn Churches Into Super PACs, February 16, 2017
- Congress Must Drain the Swamp, Not Clog the Drain, November 29, 2016
- Public Citizen to FEC: Close Loophole to Curb Foreign Campaign Spending, September 14, 2016
- Comment to FEC on Disclosure, Foreign Nationals, and Coordination Rulemaking in the Wake ofCitizens United (PDF), October 26, 2015
- Press Release: Public Citizen Refiles Petition for FEC Commissioners Who Were Rebuffed by Their Own Agency, June 18, 2015
- FEC Commisioners’ Formal Petition, Filed by Public Citizen, Urgent the Agency to Enact Rules in Response to Citizens United (PDF), June 18, 2015
- Report: Roiled in Partisan Deadlock, Federal Election Commission Is Failing (PDF), May 20, 2015
- Testimony: Public Citizen Urges FEC to Curb Out-of-Control Election Spending, Take Some of Justice Roberts’ Advice (PDF), February 11, 2015
- Testimony of Public Citizen on Rulemaking and the McCutcheon Decision: Aggregate Biennial Contribution Limits (PDF), January 15, 2015
- Public Citizen Petition for Rulemaking Urging FEC to Close “Chevron Loophole” (PDF), November 18, 2014
- Comments Filed Urging FEC Not to Allow Loopholes in Party Convention Fundraising (PDF), October 7, 2014
- Wal-Mart Running Illegal PAC Scheme, Watchdog Groups and Employees Charge in FEC Complaint (PDF), September 22, 2014
- Press Release on Public Citizen v. FEC: Groups Seek Summary Judgment Against FEC for Dismissal of Crossroads GPS Complaint, July 31, 2014
- Legal Documents on Public Citizen v. FEC via the Public Citizen Litigation Group, July 30, 2014
- Complaint Against Chevron for Violating Federal Pay-to-Play Law with Super PAC Contributions, March 19, 2014
- Letter: Campaign Finance Reform Groups to Obama (PDF), April 29, 2013
- Press Release: Roiled in Partisan Deadlock, Federal Election Commission Is Failing (PDF), January 2013
- Letter to President Obama: Federal Election Commission Deadlock, December 11, 2012
- Letter to President Obama: Federal Election Commission Petition Follow Up, May 2, 2012
- Letter to President Obama: FEC has Failed to Enforce Campaign Finance Laws, Nov. 3, 2011
- Letter to FEC: Keep the Press Exemption Focused on News Activity (PDF), June 29, 2011
- Letter to President Obama: Nominate New FEC Commissioners (PDF), March 15, 2011
- Opinion Article: “Obama Cannot Ignore the FEC Any Longer” Roll Call, March 14, 2011
- Letter to Sen. Lieberman and Rep. Issa: Investigate the Systemic Problems with the FEC (PDF), March 4, 2011
- Letter to President Obama: Repair the Broken Federal Election Commission (PDF), February 18, 2011
- Fact Sheet: Federal Election Contribution Limits For 2011-2012 (PDF), February 9, 2011
- Press Release: Three Years in Prison for Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay Is Too Little, January 10, 2011
- Letter Supporting the Embattled Office of Congressional Ethics (PDF), June 9, 2010
- Regulatory Comments: The Rules after Citizens United v. FEC (PDF), February 24, 2010
- Open Letter to President Obama: Fix the FEC Deadlock (PDF), April 30, 2009