# GQ: What \*are\* the campaign finance laws in the US now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gq-what-are-the-campaign-finance-laws-in-the-us-now/719774 "2015-05-11T14:31:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gq-what-are-the-campaign-finance-laws-in-the-us-now/719774/1 "2015-05-11T14:31:33Z")
I know this could easily end up in GD, Elections, or even IMHO, but I’m hoping to get an actual factual answer here. Does anyone know of a good reference for objective information about the current laws/FEC rules and regulations regarding US campaign funds and fundraising? There is so much partisan floff and old information out there, I really need a refresher on the actual basic facts and what is currently in place. And please, for discussions on what you think it should be, or whether you think X or Y candidate is cheating, has cheated, or got away with cheating 20 years ago, PLEASE start your own thread in the appropriate forum. Thanks for any information or guidance you can provide! ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gq-what-are-the-campaign-finance-laws-in-the-us-now/719774/2 "2015-05-11T14:36:14Z")
Start [here](http://www.fec.gov/law/feca/feca.shtml), at the Federal Election Commission’s guide to Federal Campaign Finance Laws. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gq-what-are-the-campaign-finance-laws-in-the-us-now/719774/3 "2015-05-12T18:06:50Z")
This is very dependent on what office the candidate is running for – Federal, one of the 50 states, or a local city/town/county. There are different rules for each of them. Also, the rules are different for a candidate, a branch of a political party, a political activity committee (PAC) or the political activities of a non-profit organization. In general, there are 2 branches to Campaign Finance laws: - you have to publicly report who gave you money. - you have limits on how much money you can take from any one source. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gq-what-are-the-campaign-finance-laws-in-the-us-now/719774/4 "2015-05-13T02:22:33Z")
Whatever the laws may be, they are [not being enforced](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/03/us/politics/fec-cant-curb-2016-election-abuse-commission-chief-says.html). > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON — The leader of the Federal Election Commission, the agency charged with regulating the way political money is raised and spent, says she has largely given up hope of reining in abuses in the 2016 presidential campaign, which could generate a record $10 billion in spending. > > “The likelihood of the laws being enforced is slim,” Ann M. Ravel, the chairwoman, said in an interview. “I never want to give up, but I’m not under any illusions. People think the F.E.C. is dysfunctional. It’s worse than dysfunctional.” > > Her unusually frank assessment reflects a worsening stalemate among the agency’s six commissioners. They are perpetually locked in 3-to-3 ties along party lines on key votes because of a fundamental disagreement over the mandate of the commission, which was created 40 years ago in response to the political corruption of Watergate. > > Some commissioners are barely on speaking terms, cross-aisle negotiations are infrequent, and with no consensus on which rules to enforce, the caseload against violators has plummeted. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gq-what-are-the-campaign-finance-laws-in-the-us-now/719774/5 "2015-05-13T09:16:17Z")
By contrast, the spending of parties and candidates in UK and EU elections is strictly controlled, as are donations. All expenses are reported and published - Anyone who breaks the rules will be gleefully pounced on by the opposition. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gq-what-are-the-campaign-finance-laws-in-the-us-now/719774/6 "2015-05-14T13:53:31Z")
Party and candidate spending is also tightly controlled here. What’s not controlled is spending by third parties, who can spend and say whatever they like so long as they do not “coordinate” with official campaigns.