Campaign Finance Legislation in Congress

by Cantor, Joseph E.; Garrett, R. Sam

• ISBN13: 9781604566574
• ISBN10: 1604566574
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-07-01
• Publisher: Nova Science Pub Inc

Summary

During the 109th Congress, 51 bills were introduced to change the nation's campaign finance laws (primarily under Titles 2 and 26 of the U.S. Code). These bills - 43 in the House and 8 in the Senate - sought to change the current system, including tightening perceived loopholes. Two of those bills passed the House, but no bill passed both chambers. Therefore, no statutory changes occurred in federal campaign finance law during the 109th Congress. Although the 109th Congress chose not to enact campaign finance legislation, Congress nonetheless considered dozens of bills addressing a wide variety of topics. In summarising that legislation, this book identifies 14 major topics (categories) addressed in the bills. These categories are diverse, ranging from changing individual contribution limits to regulating independent expenditures. Although some bills called for increased regulation, others proposed less regulation. Hence, legislative activity during the 109th Congress reflected a long-standing debate in campaign finance policy over extending regulation of campaign finance practices versus limiting the reach of such regulation.

Table of Contents

Preface; Highlights of 109th Congress Legislative Activity; 527 Issues; Party Co-ordinated Expenditures; Other Campaign Finance Issues; Checklist of Bills and Types of Proposals; Major Reforms Proposed, by Category; Individuals (Hard Money); PACs (Hard Money); Political Parties (Hard Money); Candidates (Hard Money); In-state or In-district Minimum (Hard Money); Independent Expenditures (Hard Money); Co-ordination (Hard and Soft Money); Soft Money: Party; Soft Money: Non-party (including tax-exempt and 527 organisations); Spending Limits and Public Benefits; FEC (Enforcement & Disclosure); Advertising Issues; Presidential Elections; Miscellaneous; Bill Summaries: Numerical Order House Bills; Senate Bills; Index.