Title 52 — Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-73
§30101 Definitions
Title 52 › Subtitle Subtitle III— - Federal Campaign Finance › Chapter CHAPTER 301— - FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS › § 30101
Summary
Defines many words used in the Act so people know what is covered and what counts in federal campaigns. It explains who is a candidate, what counts as money given or spent, what kinds of committees and party actions are covered, and when certain small gifts or volunteer work do not count as contributions or spending. Election: any general, special, primary, or runoff vote, a nominating party convention or caucus, a primary for national convention delegates, or a presidential preference primary. Candidate: a person seeking nomination or election to Federal office, or anyone who has received or spent more than $5,000 for that effort or who has authorized someone else to do so. Federal office: President, Vice President, Senator, Representative, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner to Congress. Political committee: any group that gets or spends more than $1,000 in a year, certain local party committees with $5,000 rules, or separate segregated funds. Principal campaign committee: the committee a candidate names as their main committee. Authorized committee: any committee a candidate allows to raise or spend money for them. Connected organization: a noncommittee group that starts or helps a political committee. Contribution: money or anything of value given to influence a federal election, with many exceptions for volunteer services and certain small in‑kind items and party or employer payments (several exceptions have $1,000 and $2,000 limits), normal bank loans on commercial terms, some legal/accounting employer-paid services, honoraria, and certain credit-line loans. Expenditure: money spent or promised to influence a federal election, but not ordinary news coverage, nonpartisan voter drives, certain internal member communications (reporting required if costs exceed $2,000), many party volunteer materials, and some other party costs. Commission: the Federal Election Commission. Person: an individual or group such as a partnership, committee, corporation, or labor organization (but not the Federal Government). State: a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory or possession. Identification: for a person, name and address; for an individual, also occupation and employer. National and State committee: the party groups that run day-to-day national or state operations, as the Commission decides. Political party: a group that nominates a candidate whose name appears on the federal ballot. Independent expenditure: spending that clearly supports or opposes a candidate and is not coordinated with the candidate, the candidate’s committee, or a party. Clearly identified: the candidate’s name, picture, or an unambiguous reference appears. Act: the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as changed. Federal election activity: voter registration during the 120 days before a regular federal election, voter ID, get-out-the-vote, or generic party activity tied to an election with a federal candidate on the ballot, public communications that refer to a clearly identified federal candidate and promote or attack them, and party employee time when more than 25 percent of a month is spent on federal election work; certain state/local-only communications, contributions, convention costs, and grassroots materials naming only state/local candidates are not Federal election activity. Generic campaign activity: activity that promotes a party but not a candidate. Public communication: advertising to the general public by broadcast, print, outdoor ads, mass mailings, telephone banks, or similar methods. Mass mailing: more than 500 pieces by mail or fax in 30 days. Telephone bank: more than 500 similar calls in 30 days. Election cycle: the day after the last election for a specific office up to the next election for that office (primaries and generals count as separate elections). Personal funds: money from assets the candidate controlled when they became a candidate, income during the current election cycle (like salary, investment sales, bequests, trust income, customary personal gifts, lottery winnings), and the candidate’s share of jointly owned property (or half if no share is specified).
Full Legal Text
Title 52, §30101
Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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 preference 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 aggregating in excess of $5,000 or has made expenditures aggregating in excess of $5,000; or
(B)if such individual has given his or her consent to another person to receive contributions or make expenditures 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 President 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 calendar year; or
(B)any separate segregated fund established under the provisions of section 30118(b) of this title; or
(C)any local committee of a political party which receives contributions aggregating in excess of $5,000 during a calendar year, or makes payments exempted from the definition of contribution or expenditure as defined in paragraphs (8) and (9) aggregating in excess of $5,000 during a calendar year, or makes contributions aggregating 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 30102(e)(1) of this title.
(6)The term “authorized committee” means the principal campaign committee or any other political committee authorized by a candidate under section 30102(e)(1) of this title to receive contributions 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 committee.
(8)(A)The term “contribution” includes—
(i)any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office; or
(ii)the payment by any person of compensation 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 compensation by any individual who volunteers on behalf of a candidate or political committee;
(ii)the use of real or personal property, including 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 political committee of a political party in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual’s residential premises or in the church or community room for candidate-related or political party-related activities, to the extent that the cumulative value of such invitations, food, and beverages provided by such individual 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 not exceed $2,000 in any calendar year;
(iii)the sale of any food or beverage by a vendor 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 beverage 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 not exceed $2,000 in any calendar year;
(iv)any unreimbursed payment for travel expenses made by any individual on behalf of any candidate or any political committee of a political party, to the extent that the cumulative value of such activity by such individual 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 not exceed $2,000 in any calendar year;
(v)the payment by a State or local committee of a political party of the costs of preparation, display, or mailing or other distribution incurred by such committee with respect to a printed slate card or sample ballot, or other printed listing, of 3 or more candidates 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 committee with respect to a display of any such listing made on broadcasting stations, 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 30118(b) of this title, would not constitute an expenditure by such corporation or labor organization;
(vii)any loan of money by a State bank, a federally chartered depository institution, or a depository institution the deposits or accounts of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration, other than any overdraft made with respect to a checking or savings account, made in accordance with applicable law and in the ordinary course of business, but such loan—
(I)shall be considered a loan by each endorser or guarantor, in that proportion of the unpaid balance that each endorser or guarantor bears to the total number of endorsers or guarantors;
(II)shall be made on a basis which assures repayment, evidenced by a written instrument, and subject to a due date or amortization 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—
(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 candidate or any other political committee, if the person paying for such services is the regular employer of the individual rendering such services and if such services are solely for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Act or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26,
(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—
(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 costs of campaign materials which include information on or referenced to any other candidate and which are used in connection with volunteer activities (including pins, bumper stickers, handbills, brochures, posters, and yard signs, but not including the use of broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, billboards, direct mail, or similar types of general public communication or political advertising): Provided, That such payments are made from contributions subject to the limitations and prohibitions of this Act;
(xi)the payment by a State or local committee of a political party of the costs of voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities conducted by such committee on behalf of nominees of such party for President and Vice President: Provided, That—
(xii)payments made by a candidate or the authorized committee of a candidate as a condition of ballot access and payments received by any political party committee as a condition of ballot access;
(xiii)any honorarium (within the meaning of section 30125 of this title); and
(xiv)any loan of money derived from an advance on a candidate’s brokerage account, credit card, home equity line of credit, or other line of credit available to the candidate, if such loan is made in accordance with applicable law and under commercially reasonable terms and if the person making such loan makes loans derived from an advance on the candidate’s brokerage account, credit card, home equity line of credit, or other line of credit in the normal course of the person’s business.
(9)(A)The term “expenditure” includes—
(i)any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office; and
(ii)a written contract, promise, or agreement to make an expenditure.
(B)The term “expenditure” does not include—
(i)any news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate;
(ii)nonpartisan activity designed to encourage individuals to vote or to register to vote;
(iii)any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its members, stockholders, or executive or administrative personnel, if such membership organization or corporation is not organized primarily for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election, or election, of any individual to Federal office, except that the costs incurred by a membership organization (including a labor organization) or by a corporation directly attributable to a communication expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate (other than a communication primarily devoted to subjects other than the express advocacy of the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate), shall, if such costs exceed $2,000 for any election, be reported to the Commission in accordance with section 30104(a)(4)(A)(i) of this title, and in accordance with section 30104(a)(4)(A)(ii) of this title with respect to any general election;
(iv)the payment by a State or local committee of a political party of the costs of preparation, display, or mailing or other distribution incurred by such committee with respect to a printed slate card or sample ballot, or other printed listing, of 3 or more candidates 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 costs incurred by such committee with respect to a display of any such listing made on broadcasting stations, or in newspapers, magazines, or similar types of general public political advertising;
(v)any payment made or obligation incurred by a corporation or a labor organization which, under section 30118(b) of this title, would not constitute an expenditure by such corporation or labor organization;
(vi)any costs incurred by an authorized committee or candidate in connection with the solicitation of contributions on behalf of such candidate, except that this clause shall not apply with respect to costs incurred by an authorized committee of a candidate in excess of an amount equal to 20 percent of the expenditure limitation applicable to such candidate under section 30116(b) of this title, but all such costs shall be reported in accordance with section 30104(b) of this title;
(vii)the payment of compensation for legal or accounting services—
(I)rendered to or on behalf of any political committee of a political party if the person paying for such services is the regular employer of the individual 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)rendered to or on behalf of a candidate or political committee if the person paying for such services is the regular employer of the individual rendering such services, and if such services are solely for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Act or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26,
(viii)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—
(ix)the payment by a State or local committee of a political party of the costs of voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities conducted by such committee on behalf of nominees of such party for President and Vice President: Provided, That—
(x)payments received by a political party committee as a condition of ballot access which are transferred to another political party committee or the appropriate State official.
(10)The term “Commission” means the Federal Election Commission.
(11)The term “person” includes an individual, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization, or any other organization or group of persons, but such term does not include the Federal Government or any authority of the Federal Government.
(12)The term “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory or possession of the United States.
(13)The term “identification” means—
(A)in the case of any individual, the name, the mailing address, and the occupation of such individual, as well as the name of his or her employer; and
(B)in the case of any other person, the full name and address of such person.
(14)The term “national committee” means the organization which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of such political party at the national level, as determined by the Commission.
(15)The term “State committee” means the organization which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of such political party at the State level, as determined by the Commission.
(16)The term “political party” means an association, committee, or organization which nominates a candidate for election to any Federal office whose name appears on the election ballot as the candidate of such association, committee, or organization.
(17)The term “independent expenditure” means an expenditure by a person—
(A)expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate; and
(B)that is not made in concert or cooperation with or at the request or suggestion of such candidate, the candidate’s authorized political committee, or their agents, or a political party committee or its agents.
(18)The term “clearly identified” means that—
(A)the name of the candidate involved appears;
(B)a photograph or drawing of the candidate appears; or
(C)the identity of the candidate is apparent by unambiguous reference.
(19)The term “Act” means the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 as amended.
(20)(A)The term “Federal election activity” means—
(i)voter registration activity during the period that begins on the date that is 120 days before the date a regularly scheduled Federal election is held and ends on the date of the election;
(ii)voter identification, get-out-the-vote activity, or generic campaign activity conducted in connection with an election in which a candidate for Federal office appears on the ballot (regardless of whether a candidate for State or local office also appears on the ballot);
(iii)a public communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate for Federal office (regardless of whether a candidate for State or local office is also mentioned or identified) and that promotes or supports a candidate for that office, or attacks or opposes a candidate for that office (regardless of whether the communication expressly advocates a vote for or against a candidate); or
(iv)services provided during any month by an employee of a State, district, or local committee of a political party who spends more than 25 percent of that individual’s compensated time during that month on activities in connection with a Federal election.
(B)The term “Federal election activity” does not include an amount expended or disbursed by a State, district, or local committee of a political party for—
(i)a public communication that refers solely to a clearly identified candidate for State or local office, if the communication is not a Federal election activity described in subparagraph (A)(i) or (ii);
(ii)a contribution to a candidate for State or local office, provided the contribution is not designated to pay for a Federal election activity described in subparagraph (A);
(iii)the costs of a State, district, or local political convention; and
(iv)the costs of grassroots campaign materials, including buttons, bumper stickers, and yard signs, that name or depict only a candidate for State or local office.
(21)The term “generic campaign activity” means a campaign activity that promotes a political party and does not promote a candidate or non-Federal candidate.
(22)The term “public communication” means a communication by means of any broadcast, cable, or satellite communication, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, mass mailing, or telephone bank to the general public, or any other form of general public political advertising.
(23)The term “mass mailing” means a mailing by United States mail or facsimile of more than 500 pieces of mail matter of an identical or substantially similar nature within any 30-day period.
(24)The term “telephone bank” means more than 500 telephone calls of an identical or substantially similar nature within any 30-day period.
(25)For purposes of section 30116(i) and 30117 of this title and paragraph (26), the term “election cycle” means the period beginning on the day after the date of the most recent election for the specific office or seat that a candidate is seeking and ending on the date of the next election for that office or seat. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a primary election and a general election shall be considered to be separate elections.
(26)The term “personal funds” means an amount that is derived from—
(A)any asset that, under applicable State law, at the time the individual became a candidate, the candidate had legal right of access to or control over, and with respect to which the candidate had—
(i)legal and rightful title; or
(ii)an equitable interest;
(B)income received during the current election cycle of the candidate, including—
(i)a salary and other earned income from bona fide employment;
(ii)dividends and proceeds from the sale of the candidate’s stocks or other investments;
(iii)bequests to the candidate;
(iv)income from trusts established before the beginning of the election cycle;
(v)income from trusts established by bequest after the beginning of the election cycle of which the candidate is the beneficiary;
(vi)gifts of a personal nature that had been customarily received by the candidate prior to the beginning of the election cycle; and
(vii)proceeds from lotteries and similar legal games of chance; and
(C)a portion of assets that are jointly owned by the candidate and the candidate’s spouse equal to the candidate’s share of the asset under the instrument of conveyance or ownership, but if no specific share is indicated by an instrument of conveyance or ownership, the value of ½ of the property.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, referred to in par. (19), is Pub. L. 92–225, Feb. 7, 1972, 86 Stat. 3, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 431 of Title 2, The Congress, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Some section numbers referenced in amendment notes below reflect the classification of such sections prior to their editorial reclassification to this title.
Amendments
2002—Par. (8)(B)(viii) to (xv). Pub. L. 107–155, § 103(b)(1), redesignated cls. (ix) to (xv) as (viii) to (xiv), respectively, and struck out former cl. (viii) which read as follows: “any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value to a national or a State committee of a political party specifically designated to defray any cost for
Construction
or purchase of any office facility not acquired for the purpose of influencing the election of any candidate in any particular election for Federal office;”. Par. (17). Pub. L. 107–155, § 211, added par. (17) and struck out former par. (17) which read as follows: “The term ‘independent expenditure’ means an expenditure by a person expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate which is made without cooperation or consultation with any candidate, or any authorized committee or agent of such candidate, and which is not made in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate, or any authorized committee or agent of such candidate.” Pars. (20) to (24). Pub. L. 107–155, § 101(b), added pars. (20) to (24). Pars. (25), (26). Pub. L. 107–155, § 304(c), added pars. (25) and (26). 2000—Par. (8)(B)(xv). Pub. L. 106–346 added cl. (xv). 1986—Pars. (8)(B)(ix)(II), (9)(A)(vii)(II). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”, which for purposes of codification was translated as “title 26” thus requiring no change in text. 1980—Pub. L. 96–187 changed the section designations from letters to numbers, and as so redesignated, substantially redefined the terms applicable to the provisions of this Act. 1976—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 94–283, § 102(a), substituted “party which has authority to nominate” for “party held to nominate”. Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 94–283, § 102(b), substituted “written contract, promise, or agreement,” for “contract, promise, or agreement, expressed or implied,”. Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 94–283, § 102(c), inserted provisions establishing an exception for legal or accounting services. Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 94–283, §§ 102(d), (e), 115(d)(1), substituted “section 441b(b) of this title” for “the last paragraph of section 610 of title 18, United States Code” in cl. (F), added cls. (G), (H), and (I), and, in the provisions following cl. (I), substituted “person” for “individual”. Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 94–283, §§ 102(f), 115(d)(2), inserted provisions in cl. (C) requiring the reporting to the Commission of costs directly attributable to a communication expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identifiable candidate if those costs should exceed $2,000 per election, substituted “section 441b(b) of this title” for “the last paragraph of section 610 of title 18, United States Code” in cl. (H), and added cls. (I), (J), and (K). Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 94–283, § 115(h), substituted “section 432(e) (1) of this title” for “section 432(f)(1) of this title”. Subsecs. (o) to (q). Pub. L. 94–283, § 102(g)(3), added subsecs. (o) to (q). 1974—Pub. L. 93–443, § 201(a)(1), inserted introductory reference to title IV of this Act, which for purposes of codification is translated as subchapter II of this chapter. Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 93–443, § 201(a)(2), struck out from definition of “election” the election of delegates to a constitutional convention for proposing
Amendments
to the Constitution of the United States. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 93–443, § 201(a)(3), inserted reference to “club,” before “association” and substituted “other group of persons” and “receives” for “organization” and “accepts”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 93–443, § 201(a)(4), transferred the word “means” after introductory word “contribution” to become the initial word in pars. (1) to (4); in par. (1), incorporated existing provisions in provisions designated subpars. (A) and (B), and deleted former provisions respecting contributions for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election, or election, of any person as a presidential election or for the purpose of influencing the election of delegates to a constitutional convention for proposing
Amendments
to the Constitution of the United States; in par. (2), provided for express or implied transactions; in par. (3), substitution of “funds received by a political committee which are transferred to such committee from another political committee or other source” for “a transfer of funds between political committees”; inserted at end of par. (4) the word “but”; and added par. (5). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 93–443, § 201(a)(5), transferred the word “means” following introductory word “expenditure” to become the initial word in pars. (1) to (3); in par. (1), incorporated existing provisions in provisions designated subpars. (A) to (C) and deleted end text reading “, or for the purpose of influencing the election of delegates to a constitutional convention for proposing
Amendments
to the Constitution of the United States”; in par. (2), provided for express or implied transactions; in par. (3), substituted “the transfer of funds by a political committee to another political committee; but” for “a transfer of funds between political committees”; and added par. (4). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 93–443, § 208(c)(1), substituted definition of “Commission” for “supervisory officer”. Subsecs. (j) to (n). Pub. L. 93–443, § 201(a)(6)–(8), added subsecs. (j) to (n).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2002 Amendment;
Regulations
Pub. L. 107–155, title IV, § 402, Mar. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 112, provided that: “(a) General
Effective Date
.—“(1) In general.—Except as provided in the succeeding provisions of this section, the
Effective Date
of this Act [see Tables for classification], and the
Amendments
made by this Act, is November 6, 2002. “(2) Modification of contribution limits.—The
Amendments
made by—“(A) section 102 [amending section 30116 of this title] shall apply with respect to contributions made on or after January 1, 2003; and “(B) section 307 [amending section 30116 of this title] shall take effect as provided in subsection (e) of such section [enacting provisions set out as a note under section 30116 of this title]. “(3)
Effective Date
s and
Regulations
judicial review.—Title IV [enacting provisions set out as notes under section 30110 and 30144 of this title] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Mar. 27, 2002]. “(4) Provisions not to apply to runoff elections.—section 323(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 [52 U.S.C. 30125(b)] (as added by section 101(a)), section 103(a) [amending section 30104 of this title], title II [amending this section and section 30104, 30116, and 30118 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 30104 and 30116 of this title], section 304 [amending this section and section 30104 and 30116 of this title] (including section 315(j) of Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 [52 U.S.C. 30116(j)], as added by section 304(a)(2)), 305 [amending section 315 of Title 47, Telecommunications, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 315 of Title 47] (notwithstanding subsection (c) of such section [enacting provisions set out as a note under section 315 of Title 47]), 311 [amending section 30120 of this title], 316 [amending section 30116 of this title], 318 [enacting section 30126 of this title], and 319 [enacting section 30117 of this title and amending section 30116 of this title], and title V [enacting section 30112 of this title and amending section 30104 of this title and section 315 of Title 47] (and the
Amendments
made by such sections and titles) shall take effect on
November 6, 2002, but shall not apply with respect to runoff elections, recounts, or election contests resulting from elections held prior to such date. “(b) Soft Money of National Political Parties.—“(1) In general.—Except for subsection (b) of such section, section 323 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 [52 U.S.C. 30125] (as added by section 101(a)) shall take effect on
November 6, 2002. “(2) Transitional rules for the spending of soft money of national political parties.—“(A) In general.—Notwithstanding section 323(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 [52 U.S.C. 30125(a)] (as added by section 101(a)), if a national committee of a political party described in such section (including any person who is subject to such section under paragraph (2) of such section), has received funds described in such section prior to
November 6, 2002, the rules described in subparagraph (B) shall apply with respect to the spending of the amount of such funds in the possession of such committee as of such date. “(B) Use of excess soft money funds.—“(i) In general.—Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), the national committee of a political party may use the amount described in subparagraph (A) prior to
January 1, 2003, solely for the purpose of— “(I) retiring outstanding debts or obligations that were incurred solely in connection with an election held prior to
November 6, 2002; or “(II) paying expenses or retiring outstanding debts or paying for obligations that were incurred solely in connection with any runoff election, recount, or election contest resulting from an election held prior to
November 6, 2002. “(ii) Prohibition on using soft money for hard money expenses, debts, and obligations.—A national committee of a political party may not use the amount described in subparagraph (A) for any expenditure (as defined in section 301(9) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(9)) [now 52 U.S.C. 30101(9)]) or for retiring outstanding debts or obligations that were incurred for such an expenditure. “(iii) Prohibition of building fund uses.—A national committee of a political party may not use the amount described in subparagraph (A) for activities to defray the costs of the
Construction
or purchase of any office building or facility. “(c)
Regulations
.—“(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Federal Election Commission shall promulgate
Regulations
to carry out this Act [see Tables for classification] and the
Amendments
made by this Act that are under the Commission’s jurisdiction not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Mar. 27, 2002]. “(2) Soft money of political parties.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Election Commission shall promulgate
Regulations
to carry out title I of this Act [enacting section 30125 of this title and amending this section and section 30104, 30116, and 30143 of this title] and the
Amendments
made by such title.”
Effective Date
of 2000 Amendment Pub. L. 106–346, § 101(a) [title V, § 502(d)], Oct. 23, 2000, 114 Stat. 1356, 1356A–50, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 30104 of this title] shall apply with respect to elections occurring after January 2001.”
Effective Date
of 1980 Amendment Pub. L. 96–187, title III, § 301, Jan. 8, 1980, 93 Stat. 1368, provided that: “(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the
Amendments
made by this Act [see Tables for classification] are effective upon enactment [Jan. 8, 1980]. “(b) For authorized committees of candidates for President and Vice President, section 304(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 [section 30104(b) of this title] shall be effective for elections occurring after January 1, 1981.”
Effective Date
of 1974 Amendment Pub. L. 93–443, title IV, § 410, Oct. 15, 1974, 88 Stat. 1304, provided that: “(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) and subsection (c), the foregoing provisions of this Act [see Tables for classification] shall become effective January 1, 1975. “(b) section 104 [set out as a note under section 591 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure] and the amendment made by section 301 [amending section 30143 of this title] shall become effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 15, 1974]. “(c)(1) The
Amendments
made by section 403(a), 404, 405, 406, 408, and 409 [enacting sections 9031 to 9042, amending section 276, 9002, 9003, 9004, 9005, 9006, 9007, 9008, 9009, 9010, 9011, and 9012, and repealing section 9021 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code] shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1974. “(2) The amendment made by section 407 [amending section 6012 of Title 26] shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1971.”
Effective Date
Pub. L. 92–225, title IV, § 408, formerly § 406, Feb. 7, 1972, 86 Stat. 20, as renumbered § 408 by Pub. L. 93–443, title III, § 302, Oct. 15, 1974, 88 Stat. 1289, provided that: “Except as provided in section 401 of this Act [section 30141 of this title], the provisions of this Act [see Tables for classification] shall become effective on December 31, 1971, or sixty days after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 7, 1972], whichever is later.”
Transfer of Functions
Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation abolished and functions transferred, see Pub. L. 101–73, title IV, §§ 401–406, Aug. 9, 1989, 103 Stat. 354–363, set out as a note under section 1437 of Title 12, Banks and Banking. Transition Provisions Pub. L. 96–187, title III, § 303, Jan. 8, 1980, 93 Stat. 1368, provided that: “(a) The Federal Election Commission shall transmit to the Congress proposed
Rules and Regulations
necessary for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act [see Tables for classification], and the
Amendments
made by this Act, prior to February 29, 1980. “(b) The provisions of section 311(d) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 [section 30111(d) of this title] allowing disapproval of
Rules and Regulations
by either House of Congress within 30 legislative days after receipt shall, with respect to
Rules and Regulations
required to be proposed under subsection (a) of this section, be deemed to allow such disapproval within 15 legislative days after receipt.” Study and Report on Clean Money Clean Elections Laws Pub. L. 107–155, title III, § 310, Mar. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 104, related to a study and report on clean money clean elections laws in Arizona and Maine. Voting System Study; Report to Congress; Cost of Study Pub. L. 96–187, title III, § 302, Jan. 8, 1980, 93 Stat. 1368, as amended by Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433, required the Federal Election Commission, with the cooperation and assistance of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to conduct a preliminary study of the future development of voluntary engineering and procedural performance standards for voting systems and report the results to Congress with certain recommendations.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
52 U.S.C. § 30101
Title 52 — Voting and Elections
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73