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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

Report: Roiled in Partisan Deadlock, Federal Election Commission Is Failing (PDF), July 19, 2016
Comment to FEC on Disclosure, Foreign Nationals, and Coordination Rulemaking in the Wake of Citizens 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
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
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
Press Release: Watchdogs to FEC: American Future Fund Appears to Be Violating Campaign Finance Law, October 20, 2010
Press Release: FEC Should Investigate Crossroads GPS for Campaign Finance Law Violations, October 13, 2010
Letter Supporting the Embattled Office of Congressional Ethics (PDF), June 9, 2010
Chart: Permissible PAC and Non-Profit Political Activity Under Federal Campaign Finance and Tax Laws (PDF), June 2, 2010
Regulatory Comments: The Rules after Citizens United v. FEC (PDF), February 24, 2010
Press Release: FEC Allows Corporate Gift-Giving to Senate Candidates, Flouts Federal Election Law, November 20, 2009
Open Letter to President Obama: Fix the FEC Deadlock (PDF), April 30, 2009
Press Release: Lessons from Emily’s List: Defending the Nation’s Campaign Finance Laws Requires Fixing the Agency That Is Supposed to Be in Charge, November 2, 2009

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