Title 52 — Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-73
§30109 Enforcement
Title 52 › Subtitle Subtitle III— - Federal Campaign Finance › Chapter CHAPTER 301— - FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS › § 30109
Summary
People may file a written, signed, sworn, and notarized complaint with the Commission if they think someone broke this law or related tax rules. The Commission must tell anyone accused within 5 days. The accused person has 15 days to send a written response before the Commission votes on the complaint (unless the vote is just to dismiss). The Commission may not act only on an anonymous complaint. If four Commissioners vote that there is reason to believe a violation has happened or is about to happen, the Commission must tell the person the facts and investigate, which can include fieldwork or audits. The general counsel must give the respondent a brief explaining the case and the respondent may reply within 15 days. If four Commissioners find probable cause, the Commission must try for at least 30 days (up to 90 days) to fix the problem by informal talks and try to reach a settlement. If the finding happens within 45 days before an election, the informal period must be at least 15 days. Settlement talks are confidential unless the respondent agrees in writing. Signed settlements and findings of no violation are made public. For certain reporting duties (listed in the law), the Commission may impose money penalties under a published schedule; those rules apply to reporting periods starting on or after January 1, 2000 and ending on or before December 31, 2033. A person facing such a penalty may get a court review if they file within 30 days of the notice. Settlements can include civil penalties up to the greater of $5,000 or the amount involved; for knowing and willful violations the penalty can be up to the greater of $10,000 or 200% of the amount (with higher minimums and caps for violations of section 30122). If the Commission thinks a knowing and willful violation has occurred, it may refer the case to the Attorney General. If informal methods fail, four Commissioners may authorize the Commission to sue in federal court for injunctions or penalties. If a complaint filer’s case is dismissed or the Commission does not act within 120 days, the filer may petition the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (within 60 days of dismissal). The court can order the Commission to act within 30 days, and the filer may then sue in their own name if the Commission does not comply. The Attorney General must report back to the Commission within 60 days of a referral and then every 30 days until the case ends. If the Commission or anyone makes notifications or investigations public without written consent, they may be fined up to $2,000, or up to $5,000 for knowing and willful breaches. Criminal penalties also apply: knowing and willful violations involving $25,000 or more in a year can bring fines under title 18, imprisonment up to 5 years, or both; violations of $2,000 or more but less than $25,000 can bring fines or up to 1 year in prison or both. Special lower or different thresholds and penalties apply for certain named sections in the law. In criminal trials, a current settlement with the Commission about the same act may be used by the defendant as evidence about intent, and the court must consider the existence and status of such a settlement when deciding punishment.
Full Legal Text
Title 52, §30109
Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)Any person who believes a violation of this Act or of chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26 has occurred, may file a complaint with the Commission. Such complaint shall be in writing, signed and sworn to by the person filing such complaint, shall be notarized, and shall be made under penalty of perjury and subject to the provisions of section 1001 of title 18. Within 5 days after receipt of a complaint, the Commission shall notify, in writing, any person alleged in the complaint to have committed such a violation. Before the Commission conducts any vote on the complaint, other than a vote to dismiss, any person so notified shall have the opportunity to demonstrate, in writing, to the Commission within 15 days after notification that no action should be taken against such person on the basis of the complaint. The Commission may not conduct any investigation or take any other action under this section solely on the basis of a complaint of a person whose identity is not disclosed to the Commission.
(2)If the Commission, upon receiving a complaint under paragraph (1) or on the basis of information ascertained in the normal course of carrying out its supervisory responsibilities, determines, by an affirmative vote of 4 of its members, that it has reason to believe that a person has committed, or is about to commit, a violation of this Act or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26, the Commission shall, through its chairman or vice chairman, notify the person of the alleged violation. Such notification shall set forth the factual basis for such alleged violation. The Commission shall make an investigation of such alleged violation, which may include a field investigation or audit, in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(3)The general counsel of the Commission shall notify the respondent of any recommendation to the Commission by the general counsel to proceed to a vote on probable cause pursuant to paragraph (4)(A)(i). With such notification, the general counsel shall include a brief stating the position of the general counsel on the legal and factual issues of the case. Within 15 days of receipt of such brief, respondent may submit a brief stating the position of such respondent on the legal and factual issues of the case, and replying to the brief of general counsel. Such briefs shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commission and shall be considered by the Commission before proceeding under paragraph (4).
(4)(A)(i)Except as provided in clauses 11 So in original. Probably should be “clause”. (ii) and subparagraph (C), if the Commission determines, by an affirmative vote of 4 of its members, that there is probable cause to believe that any person has committed, or is about to commit, a violation of this Act or of chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26, the Commission shall attempt, for a period of at least 30 days, to correct or prevent such violation by informal methods of conference, conciliation, and persuasion, and to enter into a conciliation agreement with any person involved. Such attempt by the Commission to correct or prevent such violation may continue for a period of not more than 90 days. The Commission may not enter into a conciliation agreement under this clause except pursuant to an affirmative vote of 4 of its members. A conciliation agreement, unless violated, is a complete bar to any further action by the Commission, including the bringing of a civil proceeding under paragraph (6)(A).
(ii)If any determination of the Commission under clause (i) occurs during the 45-day period immediately preceding any election, then the Commission shall attempt, for a period of at least 15 days, to correct or prevent the violation involved by the methods specified in clause (i).
(B)(i)No action by the Commission or any person, and no information derived, in connection with any conciliation attempt by the Commission under subparagraph (A) may be made public by the Commission without the written consent of the respondent and the Commission.
(ii)If a conciliation agreement is agreed upon by the Commission and the respondent, the Commission shall make public any conciliation agreement signed by both the Commission and the respondent. If the Commission makes a determination that a person has not violated this Act or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26, the Commission shall make public such determination.
(C)(i)Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in the case of a violation of a qualified disclosure requirement, the Commission may—
(I)find that a person committed such a violation on the basis of information obtained pursuant to the procedures described in paragraphs (1) and (2); and
(II)based on such finding, require the person to pay a civil money penalty in an amount determined, for violations of each qualified disclosure requirement, under a schedule of penalties which is established and published by the Commission and which takes into account the amount of the violation involved, the existence of previous violations by the person, and such other factors as the Commission considers appropriate.
(ii)The Commission may not make any determination adverse to a person under clause (i) until the person has been given written notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Commission.
(iii)Any person against whom an adverse determination is made under this subparagraph may obtain a review of such determination in the district court of the United States for the district in which the person resides, or transacts business, by filing in such court (prior to the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date the person receives notification of the determination) a written petition requesting that the determination be modified or set aside.
(iv)In this subparagraph, the term “qualified disclosure requirement” means any requirement of—
(I)subsection 22 So in original. Probably should be “subsection”. (a), (c), (e), (f), (g), or (i) of section 30104 of this title; or
(II)section 30105 of this title.
(v)This subparagraph shall apply with respect to violations that relate to reporting periods that begin on or after January 1, 2000, and that end on or before December 31, 2033.
(5)(A)If the Commission believes that a violation of this Act or of chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26 has been committed, a conciliation agreement entered into by the Commission under paragraph (4)(A) may include a requirement that the person involved in such conciliation agreement shall pay a civil penalty which does not exceed the greater of $5,000 or an amount equal to any contribution or expenditure involved in such violation.
(B)If the Commission believes that a knowing and willful violation of this Act or of chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26 has been committed, a conciliation agreement entered into by the Commission under paragraph (4)(A) may require that the person involved in such conciliation agreement shall pay a civil penalty which does not exceed the greater of $10,000 or an amount equal to 200 percent of any contribution or expenditure involved in such violation (or, in the case of a violation of section 30122 of this title, which is not less than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and is not more than the greater of $50,000 or 1,000 percent of the amount involved in the violation).
(C)If the Commission by an affirmative vote of 4 of its members, determines that there is probable cause to believe that a knowing and willful violation of this Act which is subject to subsection (d), or a knowing and willful violation of chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26, has occurred or is about to occur, it may refer such apparent violation to the Attorney General of the United States without regard to any limitations set forth in paragraph (4)(A).
(D)In any case in which a person has entered into a conciliation agreement with the Commission under paragraph (4)(A), the Commission may institute a civil action for relief under paragraph (6)(A) if it believes that the person has violated any provision of such conciliation agreement. For the Commission to obtain relief in any civil action, the Commission need only establish that the person has violated, in whole or in part, any requirement of such conciliation agreement.
(6)(A)If the Commission is unable to correct or prevent any violation of this Act or of chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26, by the methods specified in paragraph (4), the Commission may, upon an affirmative vote of 4 of its members, institute a civil action for relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or any other appropriate order (including an order for a civil penalty which does not exceed the greater of $5,000 or an amount equal to any contribution or expenditure involved in such violation) in the district court of the United States for the district in which the person against whom such action is brought is found, resides, or transacts business.
(B)In any civil action instituted by the Commission under subparagraph (A), the court may grant a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, including a civil penalty which does not exceed the greater of $5,000 or an amount equal to any contribution or expenditure involved in such violation, upon a proper showing that the person involved has committed, or is about to commit (if the relief sought is a permanent or temporary injunction or a restraining order), a violation of this Act or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26.
(C)In any civil action for relief instituted by the Commission under subparagraph (A), if the court determines that the Commission has established that the person involved in such civil action has committed a knowing and willful violation of this Act or of chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26, the court may impose a civil penalty which does not exceed the greater of $10,000 or an amount equal to 200 percent of any contribution or expenditure involved in such violation (or, in the case of a violation of section 30122 of this title, which is not less than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and is not more than the greater of $50,000 or 1,000 percent of the amount involved in the violation).
(7)In any action brought under paragraph (5) or (6), subpenas for witnesses who are required to attend a United States district court may run into any other district.
(8)(A)Any party aggrieved by an order of the Commission dismissing a complaint filed by such party under paragraph (1), or by a failure of the Commission to act on such complaint during the 120-day period beginning on the date the complaint is filed, may file a petition with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
(B)Any petition under subparagraph (A) shall be filed, in the case of a dismissal of a complaint by the Commission, within 60 days after the date of the dismissal.
(C)In any proceeding under this paragraph the court may declare that the dismissal of the complaint or the failure to act is contrary to law, and may direct the Commission to conform with such declaration within 30 days, failing which the complainant may bring, in the name of such complainant, a civil action to remedy the violation involved in the original complaint.
(9)Any judgment of a district court under this subsection may be appealed to the court of appeals, and the judgment of the court of appeals affirming or setting aside, in whole or in part, any such order of the district court shall be final, subject to review by the Supreme Court of the United States upon certiorari or certification as provided in section 1254 of title 28.
(10)Repealed. Pub. L. 98–620, title IV, § 402(1)(A), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3357.
(11)If the Commission determines after an investigation that any person has violated an order of the court entered in a proceeding brought under paragraph (6), it may petition the court for an order to hold such person in civil contempt, but if it believes the violation to be knowing and willful it may petition the court for an order to hold such person in criminal contempt.
(12)(A)Any notification or investigation made under this section shall not be made public by the Commission or by any person without the written consent of the person receiving such notification or the person with respect to whom such investigation is made.
(B)Any member or employee of the Commission, or any other person, who violates the provisions of subparagraph (A) shall be fined not more than $2,000. Any such member, employee, or other person who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of subparagraph (A) shall be fined not more than $5,000.
(b)Before taking any action under subsection (a) against any person who has failed to file a report required under section 30104(a)(2)(A)(iii) of this title for the calendar quarter immediately preceding the election involved, or in accordance with section 30104(a)(2)(A)(i) of this title, the Commission shall notify the person of such failure to file the required reports. If a satisfactory response is not received within 4 business days after the date of notification, the Commission shall, pursuant to section 30111(a)(7) of this title, publish before the election the name of the person and the report or reports such person has failed to file.
(c)Whenever the Commission refers an apparent violation to the Attorney General, the Attorney General shall report to the Commission any action taken by the Attorney General regarding the apparent violation. Each report shall be transmitted within 60 days after the date the Commission refers an apparent violation, and every 30 days thereafter until the final disposition of the apparent violation.
(d)(1)(A)Any person who knowingly and willfully commits a violation of any provision of this Act which involves the making, receiving, or reporting of any contribution, donation, or expenditure—
(i)aggregating $25,000 or more during a calendar year shall be fined under title 18, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both; or
(ii)aggregating $2,000 or more (but less than $25,000) during a calendar year shall be fined under such title, or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.
(B)In the case of a knowing and willful violation of section 30118(b)(3) of this title, the penalties set forth in this subsection shall apply to a violation involving an amount aggregating $250 or more during a calendar year. Such violation of section 30118(b)(3) of this title may incorporate a violation of section 30119(b), 30122, or 30123 of this title.
(C)In the case of a knowing and willful violation of section 30124 of this title, the penalties set forth in this subsection shall apply without regard to whether the making, receiving, or reporting of a contribution or expenditure of $1,000 or more is involved.
(D)Any person who knowingly and willfully commits a violation of section 30122 of this title involving an amount aggregating more than $10,000 during a calendar year shall be—
(i)imprisoned for not more than 2 years if the amount is less than $25,000 (and subject to imprisonment under subparagraph (A) if the amount is $25,000 or more);
(ii)fined not less than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and not more than the greater of—
(I)$50,000; or
(II)1,000 percent of the amount involved in the violation; or
(iii)both imprisoned under clause (i) and fined under clause (ii).
(2)In any criminal action brought for a violation of any provision of this Act or of chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26, any defendant may evidence their lack of knowledge or intent to commit the alleged violation by introducing as evidence a conciliation agreement entered into between the defendant and the Commission under subsection (a)(4)(A) which specifically deals with the act or failure to act constituting such violation and which is still in effect.
(3)In any criminal action brought for a violation of any provision of this Act or of chapter 95 or chapter 96 of title 26, the court before which such action is brought shall take into account, in weighing the seriousness of the violation and in considering the appropriateness of the penalty to be imposed if the defendant is found guilty, whether—
(A)the specific act or failure to act which constitutes the violation for which the action was brought is the subject of a conciliation agreement entered into between the defendant and the Commission under subparagraph (a)(4)(A);
(B)the conciliation agreement is in effect; and
(C)the defendant is, with respect to the violation involved, in compliance with the conciliation agreement.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d), means the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as defined by section 30101 of this title. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 437g 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.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 309 of Pub. L. 92–225 was renumbered section 306, and is classified to section 30106 of this title. Another prior section 309 of Pub. L. 92–225 was renumbered section 308, and was classified to section 437b of Title 2, The Congress, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–187. Another prior section 309 of Pub. L. 92–225 was renumbered section 312, and is classified to section 30113 of this title.
Amendments
2023—Subsec. (a)(4)(C)(v). Pub. L. 118–26 substituted “
December 31, 2033” for “
December 31, 2023”. 2018—Subsec. (a)(4)(C)(v). Pub. L. 115–386 substituted “
December 31, 2023” for “
December 31, 2018”. 2013—Subsec. (a)(4)(C)(i). Pub. L. 113–72, § 2(a), substituted “a qualified disclosure requirement” for “any requirement of section 434(a) of this title” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(4)(C)(i)(II). Pub. L. 113–72, § 2(b), inserted “, for violations of each qualified disclosure requirement,” before “under a schedule of penalties”. Subsec. (a)(4)(C)(iv). Pub. L. 113–72, § 2(c)(2), added cl. (iv). Former cl. (iv) redesignated (v). Pub. L. 113–72, § 1, substituted “
December 31, 2018” for “
December 31, 2013”. Subsec. (a)(4)(C)(v). Pub. L. 113–72, § 2(c)(1), redesignated cl. (iv) as (v). 2008—Subsec. (a)(4)(C)(iv). Pub. L. 110–433 added cl. (iv). 2002—Subsec. (a)(5)(B). Pub. L. 107–155, § 315(a)(1), inserted before period at end “(or, in the case of a violation of section 441f of this title, which is not less than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and is not more than the greater of $50,000 or 1,000 percent of the amount involved in the violation)”. Subsec. (a)(6)(C). Pub. L. 107–155, § 315(a)(2), inserted before period at end “(or, in the case of a violation of section 441f of this title, which is not less than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and is not more than the greater of $50,000 or 1,000 percent of the amount involved in the violation)”. Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 107–155, § 312(a), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “Any person who knowingly and willfully commits a violation of any provision of this Act which involves the making, receiving, or reporting of any contribution or expenditure aggregating $2,000 or more during a calendar year shall be fined, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. The amount of this fine shall not exceed the greater of $25,000 or 300 percent of any contribution or expenditure involved in such violation.” Subsec. (d)(1)(D). Pub. L. 107–155, § 315(b), added subpar. (D). 1999—Subsec. (a)(4)(A)(i). Pub. L. 106–58, § 640(a)(1), substituted “clauses (ii) and subparagraph (C)” for “clause (ii)”. Subsec. (a)(4)(C). Pub. L. 106–58, § 640(a)(2), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (a)(6)(A). Pub. L. 106–58, § 640(b), substituted “paragraph (4)” for “paragraph (4)(A)”. 1986—Subsecs. (a)(1), (2), (4)(A)(i), (B)(ii), (5)(A) to (C), (6), (d)(2), (3). 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. 1984—Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 98–620 struck out par. (10) which provided that any action brought under subsec. (a) be advanced on the docket of the court in which filed and put ahead of all other actions (other than other actions brought under this subsec. or under section 437h of this title). 1980—Pub. L. 96–187, § 108, substantially revised provisions of this section in order to facilitate the Commission’s more expeditious handling of complaints, and implementation of
Enforcement
proceedings. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–283, § 109, generally revised provisions of subsec. (a) to reflect enactment of sections 441a to 441j of this title and repeal of section 608 and 610 to 617 of title 18 and to update the operations of the Commission. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 94–283, § 109, reenacted subsec. (b) without change and added subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2018 Amendment Pub. L. 115–386, § 1(b), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5161, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the earlier of— “(1) December 31, 2018; or “(2) the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 21, 2018].”
Effective Date
of 2013 Amendment Pub. L. 113–72, § 3, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1211, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this Act [amending this section] shall take effect on the earlier of— “(1) December 31, 2013; or “(2) the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 26, 2013].”
Effective Date
of 2008 Amendment Pub. L. 110–433, § 1(c), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4971, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and repealing provisions set out as a note below] shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2000 [Pub. L. 106–58].”
Effective Date
of 2002 Amendment Pub. L. 107–155, title III, § 312(b), Mar. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 106, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to violations occurring on or after the
Effective Date
of this Act [for general
Effective Date
of Pub. L. 107–155, see section 402 of Pub. L. 107–155, set out as an
Effective Date
of 2002 Amendment;
Regulations
note under section 30101 of this title].” Pub. L. 107–155, title III, § 315(c), Mar. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 108, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to violations occurring on or after the
Effective Date
of this Act [for general
Effective Date
of Pub. L. 107–155, see section 402 of Pub. L. 107–155, set out as an
Effective Date
of 2002 Amendment;
Regulations
note under section 30101 of this title].”
Effective Date
of 1999 Amendment Pub. L. 106–58, title VI, § 640(c), Sept. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 477, as amended by Pub. L. 107–67, title VI, § 642, Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 555; Pub. L. 108–199, div. F, title VI, § 639, Jan. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 359; Pub. L. 109–115, div. A, title VII, § 721, Nov. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2493, which provided that the
Amendments
made by section 640 of Pub. L. 106–58, amending this section, were applicable to violations relating to reporting periods beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2000, and ending on or before Dec. 31, 2008, was repealed by Pub. L. 110–433, § 1(b), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4971.
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–620 not applicable to cases pending on Nov. 8, 1984, see section 403 of Pub. L. 98–620, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 1657 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Effective Date
of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–187 effective Jan. 8, 1980, see section 301(a) of Pub. L. 96–187, set out as a note under section 30101 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective Jan. 1, 1975, see section 410(a) of Pub. L. 93–443, set out as an
Effective Date
of 1974 Amendment note under section 30101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
52 U.S.C. § 30109
Title 52 — Voting and Elections
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73