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Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974
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The original documents are located in Box 16, folder "Federal Election Campaign Act
Amendments of 1974" of the John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 16 of the John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
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OUTLINE OF FEDERAL ELECTION
CAMPAIGN ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1974
I. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENTS
A. Limitations On Contributions To Candidates For Election To Federal Office
1. Individuals are limited to contributing $1,000 to a candidate for
federal office in any election.
2. A political committee (except for the principal campaign committee)
is limited to contributing $5,000 to any candidate for federal office
in any election.
3. National committee of a political party is limited to contributing
$5,000 to any candidate for federal office except when it serves
as the principal campaign committee for a candidate for office
of President.
4. A "political committee" means an organization registered as a
political committee under Section 303 of Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971 for a period of not less than 6 months
and has received contributions from more than 50 persons and,
except for any state political organization, has made contri-
butions to five or more candidates for state office.
a. Registration of political committee under Section 303 means
filing with the supervisory officer if the committee anticipates
making contributions or expenditures in an aggregate amount
exceeding $1,000. There are eleven factual parts of the
statement of organization which is filed.
5. No individual may make contributions which in the aggregate exceed
$25,000 in any calendar year If the contribution was made in
any'other calendar year but was intended to be used in the
original calendar year, it is counted against the total in
the original calendar year.
6. Contributions made to a political committee which is authorized in
writing to accept contributions on behalf of the candidate are
considered contributions to the candidate.
7. Contributions made to the candidate for Vice President are considered
to be contributions to the candidate for President of the same
political party.
8. Limitations on individuals contributing $1,000 and political
committees contributing $5,000 apply separately to each election
except that all elections in any one year for President count as
one election (all primaries and the general count as one).
9. Any contributions which are given to an intermediary and then to a
candidate are considered to be contributions from the person who
gave it to the intermediary and the intermediary must report the
original source and the intended source to the Commission and
the intended source.
10. A candidate for President is limited to spending $10,000,000 in
seeking the nomination for office (i.e., primaries and convention
spending) except that the aggregate of expenditures in any one
state shall not exceed twice the expenditure limitation in such
state applicable to a candidate for nomination for election for
Office of Senator, Delegate or Resident Commissioner (i.e., candidate
for President cannot spend more than twice as much in the primary as
a candidate for Senator could in the Senatorial primary or nomin-
ating convention).
11. A candidate for office of President is limited to spending
$20,000,000 in the general election (no limitation on what can
be spent in each state).
12. A candidate for office of Senator or for Representative in a state
with only one Representative is limited to spending in the primary
or nominating convention or a runoff, if necessary, the greater of:
a. 8 cents multiplied by the voting age population of the state, or
b. $100,000.
13. A candidate for office of Senator or for Representative in a state
with only one Representative is limited to spending in the general
election the greater of:
a. 12 cents multiplied by the voting age population of the state, or
b. $150,000.
14. A candidate for nomination for election or for election to office of
Representative in a state with more than one Representative, Delegate
from D.C., or Resident Commissioner is limited to spending $70,000
($70,000 can be spent in parimary, $70,000 in runoff and $70,000 in
general).
15. A candidate for nomination for election or for election to office of
Delegate from Guam or Virgin Islands is limited to spending $15,000
($15,000 in primary and $15,000 in general).
16. Expenditures made by or on behalf of a candidate for Vice President
are considered to be expenditures by or on behalf of the candidate
for President of the same political party.
17. An expenditure is made on behalf of a candidate if it is made by an
authorized committee of the candidate or any person authorized by
the candidate, an agent of the candidate, or an authorized committee
of the candidate, to make an expenditure.
18. Rules will be prescribed by the Commission to spell out
an equitable distribution when a candidate makes an
expenditure in a primary which affects two ore more states.
The basis of the rules will be the number of voting age
people who can be reasonably expected to be reached by the
expenditure.
19. The limitations on expenditures will increase at the beginning
of each year by the per centum difference between the price
index for the base year (1974) and the price index for the
just completed calendar year (this whole process does not begin
until 1976).
a. Price index means the average over a calendar year of the
Consumer Price Index published monthly by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
20. A person cannot make an expenditure on behalf of a candidate which,
when added together with all other expenditures made by the person
during the year advocating the election or defeat of such candidate,
exceeds $1,000.
a. Clearly identified means:
(1) candidate's name appears
(2) photograph or drawing of candidate appears
(3) identity of candidate is apparent by unambiguous
reference.
b. Expenditure does not include payments made or incurred by a
corporation or labor organization on behalf of a candidate
which are not prohibited by 18 U.S.C. $610, such as:
(1) Communications by a corporation to its stockholders and
their families and by a labor organization to its members
and their families.
(2) Non-partisan get-out-the-vote activity by a corporation
or a labor organization aimed at stockholders or members
and their families.
(3) Establishment and administration of a separate, segregated
fund to be utilized for political purposes by a corporation
or a labor organization.
B. Expenditures
1. National committees of political parties and state committees, includiv
any subordinate committees of a state committee, may make expenditures
in connection with the general election campaign of candidates for
federal office as follows:
a. National committee of a political party may not make
expenditures in excess of 2 cents times the voting age
population on behalf of the party's candidate for President.
This expenditure is in addition to any expenditure made on
behalf of the presidential candidate by the national
committee while the national committee is serving as the presi-
dential candidate's principal campaign committee.
b.
National committee or a state committee, including any subordinate
committee of the state committee, may not make an expenditure in
the general election on behalf of that party's candidate for
federal office which exceeds:
(1) For the office of Senator or Representative in a state with
only one Representative, the greater of 2 cents multiplied
by the voting age population of the state or $20,000;
(2) For the office of Representative, Delegate or Resident
Commissioner, $10,000.
2. During the first week of January 1975 and each subsequent year,
Secretary of Commerce shall certify to the Federal Elections
Commission and publish in the Federal Register an estimate of
the voting age population of the U.S., of each state and of each
Congressional district as of the first day of July next preceding
the date of certification.
a. Voting age population means resident population, 18 years
of age or older.
C. Violations
1. No candidate or political committee may knowingly accept a contribution
or make an expenditure in violation of 18 U.S.C. $608.
2. No officer or employee of a political committee may knowingly accept
a contribution or make an expenditure in violation of the limitations
set by the Act.
3. Any person who violates any provision of 18 U.S.C. $608 may be fined
not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year or both.
D. Limitations on expenditures from candidates' personal funds
1. No candidate can make expenditures from his personal funds or those
of his immediate family in connection with the candidate's nomination
for election or election to federal office which are in excess of
the following:
a. $50,000 in case of candidate for President
b. $35,000 in case of candidate for Senator or Representative from
the state with only one Representative
c. $25,000 from candidate for Representative in state with more than
one Representative or Delegate or Resident Commissioner.
2. If an expenditure is made in a calendar year other than the
calendar year in which the election is held, it is considered
to have been made in the election year.
3. No candidate or his immediate family may make advances or loans
to the candidate from the candidates or the immediate family's
personal funds unless there is a written instrument disclosing
the terms and conditions of the advance of the loan.
4. For purposes of the expenditure limitation for candidates and
their immediate families, only the amount of the advance or loan
outstanding will be counted.
5. Any outstanding campaign debt incurred by a candidate prior to
December 31, 1972 may be satisfied by a candidate or his immediate
family out of his or his immediate family's personal funds.
6. Immediate family means a candidate's spouse, any children, parent,
grandparent, brother or sister of the candidate, and the spouses
of such persons.
E. Contributions By Foreign Nationals
1. The prohibition against contributions by agents of foreign principals
is changed to prohibit contributions by foreign nationals.
2. A foreign national is defined by section (b) of the Foreign Agents
Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. $611(b)) except that foreign
national shall include any individual who is a citizen of the
United States.
3. A foreign national is also an individual who is not a citizen of the
U.S. and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence as
defined by 8 U.S.C. $110(a) (20).
F. Penalties For Illegal Contributions or Expenditures By
National Banks, Corporations or Labor Organizations
1. An illegal contribution or expenditure by any of the above may be
punishable by a fine of not more than $25,000.
2. A willful violation of the contribution and expenditure limitations
by any of the above or any director or officer who consents may be
punishable by a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonment of not
more than two years or both.
G. Penalties for Illegal Contributions of Government Contractors
1. Violation of prohibition against contributions or expenditures by
government contractors shall result in a fine of $25,000 or five
years imprisonment or both.
-5-
H. Penalties for Illegal Contributions By Foreign Nationals
1. Violation of prohibition against contributions or expenditures
by foreign nationals shall result in a fine of $25,000 or five
years imprisonment or both for the individual who knowingly
solicits, accepts or receives contributions from a foreign
national.
I. Prohibition Against Contributions in the Name of Another
1. No person shall make a contribution in the name of another person or
knowingly permit his name to be used to effect such a contribution or
accept a contribution knowing that it is made in the name of another
2. Violation of this prohibition shall result in a fine of
not more than $25,000 or one year imprisonment or both.
J. Limitations on Contributions of Currency
1. No person may make a contribution in the currency of the U.S. or the
currency of a foreign country to a candidate for nomination for
election or for election to federal office which exceeds $100
2. Any person who violates this currency prohibition shall be fined
not more than $25,000 or imprisoned not more than one year
or both.
K. Acceptance of Excessive Honorariums
1. An elected or appointed officer or any employee of any branch of
the Federal government may not accept an honorarium for any
appearance, speech or article which exceeds $1,000 excluding
expense for travel and subsistence expenses.
2. The above officials may not accept honorariums which exceed
$15,000 in any calendar year.
3. Violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not less
than $1,000 nor more than $15,000.
L. Fraudulent Misrepresentation of Campaign Authority
1. Any candidate for federal office or an employee or agent of the
candidate is prohibited from fraudulently misrepresenting himself
or any committee or organization under his control as speaking,
writing or acting on behalf of another candidate or political party,
agent or employee on a matter which is damaging to the other candidate,
political party or employee or agent thereof. Furthermore, willfully
and knowingly participating or conspiring in such a scheme is prohibite
-6-
2. Violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more
than $25,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year or both.
M. Changes in Criminal Code Definitions
1. Election is defined as a:
a. General, special, primary or runoff election
b. Convention or caucus of a political party held to nominate a
candidate
c. Primary election held for selection of delegates to a national
nominating convention of a political party
d. Primary election held for expression of preference for nomination
of persons for election to office of President.
2. Political committee is defined as any committee, club, association
or other group of persons which receives contributions or makes
expenditures during a calendar year in an aggregate amount
exceeding $1,000.
3. Contribution is defined as:
a. Gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything
of value made for the purpose of influencing the nomination for
election or election of any person to federal office or for the
purpose of influencing the result of a primary held for the
selection of delegates to a national nominating convention of
a political party or for the expression of a preference for the
nomination of persons for election to office of President.
b. A contract, promise, agreement whether or not legally enforceable
to make a contribution for the above purposes.
c. Funds received by a political committee which are transferred to
such committee to another committee or other source.
d. Payment, by any person other than a candidate or a political
committee, of compensation for personal services of another
person which are rendered to such candidate or political committee
without charge for any such purpose.
e. Definition of contribution does not include:
(1) Value of services provided by individuals without compensation
volunteers
who volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a
candidate or political committee
-7-
Campaign
(2) Use of real or personal property and the cost of
dinners
invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided
by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary
personal services on the individual's premises for
candidate-related activities.
food and
(3) Sale of any food or beverage by a vendor for use in a
beverages
candidate's campaign at a charge less than the normal
comparable charge, if such charge is at least equal
to cost for such food or beverage to vendor.
travel
(4) Any unreimbursed travel expenses made by an individual
expense
who on his own behalf volunteers his personal services
to a candidate.
slate
(5) Payment by state or local committee of a political party
cards
of costs of preparation, display or mailing or other dis-
tribution 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 any election is held in the state in which such
committee is organized except that this exception shall
not apply in the case of costs incurred by such committee witl
respect to a display of any such listing made on broadcasting
stations, or in newspapers, magazines or other similar types
of general political advertising.
(6) Cumulative activites by any individual in campaign
dinners, food and beverage; and travel expenses
cannot exceed $500 for any one election.
-8-
4. Expenditure is defined as:
a. Purchase, payment distribution, loan, advance, deposit
or gift of money or anything of value made for the purpose
of influencing the nomination for election or election
of any person to Federal office or for the purpose of influ-
encing the results of a primary held for the selection
of delegates to a national nominating convention of a
political party or for the expression of a preference
for the nomination of persons for election to the office
of President of the United States.
b. A contract, promise, or agreement, express or implied,
whether or not legally enforceable to make any expenditure.
c. Transfer of funds by a political to another political
committee.
d. Exceptions to definition of expenditure.
Editorials
(1) Any news story, commentary or editorial distributed
through the facilities of any broadcasting station,
newspaper, magazine or other periodical publications unless
such facilities are owned or controlled by any political
party, political committee or candidate.
Nonpartisan get-out-
(2) Nonpartisan activity encouraging individuals to
the vote activity
register to vote or to vote.
Communications to
(3) Any communication by any membership organization
organization
or- corporation to its members or stockholders, if such
members
membership organizations is not organized primarily for
purposes of influencing nomination for election or
election to any person to Federal office.
Travel expenses
(4) Any unreimbursed payment for travel expenses
made by an individaul who on his own behalf volunteers
his personal services to a candidate.
Campaign dinners
(5) Use of real or personal property and cost of
invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided
by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary
personal services on the individual's residential
premises for candidate related activities.
Non-election
(6) Any communication by any person which is not made
communications
for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election,
or election of any person to Federal office.
Slate cards
(7) Payment by a State or local committee of a political
party of 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
-9-
of 3 or more candidates for any public officer for
which such committee is organized except that this
clause shall not apply in the case of costs incurred
by such committee with respect to a display or any
such lisitng made on broadcasting stations or in news-
papers, magazines or other similar types of general public
advertising.
Fund-raising
(8) Costs incurred in soliciting contributions but these
costs
costs cannot exceed 20% of amount of candidate's ex-
penditure limitation.
Fund-raising
(9) Costs incurred by a political committee with respect
costs of
to soliciting contributions for the political committee
political
except that this exemption does not apply to costs
committees
incurred with respect to solicitation of contributions
made through broadcasting stations, newspapers, magazines,
outdoor advertising facilities and other types of general
public political advertising.
(10) Travel expenses and campaign dinner exemptions cannot
cumulatively exceed $500 with respect to any election.
5. Political party is defined as any 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.
6. State committee is defined as the organization which by virtue
of the by-laws of a political party is responsible for the day-to-
day operation of such political party at the State level, as
determined by the Federal Elections Commission.
7. National committee is defined as the organization which by
virtue of the by-laws of the political party is responsible for
the day-to-day operation of the political party at the national
level.
8. Principal campaign committee is defined as the principal
campaign committee ignatedby the candidate.
N. Addition to Section on Prohibition of contributions by Government
Contractors.
1. Corporation or labor organization may establish a separate
fund for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election or
the elction of any person to Federal office even if corporation
or labor organization is a government contractor.
O. Effect on State Law.
1. Federal criminal code provisions relating to elections and political
activities supersede and prempt any provision of State law with respect
to election to Federal office.
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THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 30, 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR:
ANNE ARMSTRONG
DEAN BURCH
BOB HARTMANN
JOHN MARSH
BILL TIMMONS
FROM:
GEOFF SHEPARD
Attached for your background information and in preparation
for Wednesday's meeting on campaign reform are copies both
of Ken Cole's memo to the President requesting the meeting
and the meeting paper itself.
CC:
General Haig
Jerry terHorst
Ken Cole
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08/0/0
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 26, 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
KEN COLE
SUBJECT:
Strategy Meeting on Campaign
Reform
We need a strategy meeting with you to develop your Administration's position
on campaign reform before we lose the issue completely:
:
House and Senate conferees have been named, and the conference is
expected to begin soon after the Congressional recess.
--
Although the House and Senate versions differ substantially from
each other, neither one is even close to the position which the
Administration submitted last March. (Bryce Harlow worked with
you and others in developing the position.)
--
Representative Hays has asked for a meeting with you in an attempt
to strengthen his position in the conference. Rep. Frenzel, who
headed the Republican Task Force on Campaign Reform, has asked
to see you before Hays.
--
The Republican National Committee feels very strongly that the
House version virtually guarantees the end of the Republican Party
because of its limit on party activity and financing.
There are a series of individual questions on key issues which will define the
parameters of what the Administration can support in terms of campaign reform,
such as public financing, expenditure limits, donation limits, the role of the
political party and the makeup of the proposed election commission. These items,
however, must be decided in the context of the overall posturing as to who is
going to take the blame for there being "no campaign reform legislation after
Watergate."
-2-
There appear to be two available options for your Administration:
--
Strongly advocate the Administration-sponsored campaign reform
legislation (or something similar should you disagree with any of
its specifics), do a series of speeches and meetings with executive
and Congressional personnel to publicize your position and solidify
Republican support, and be prepared to veto any legislation which
does not substantially conform to your position.
:
Continue to low-key the campaign reform issue and avoid taking a
position as long as possible with the hope that the conferees will
never be able to agree upon appropriate legislation, and Congress
will adjourn without receiving a Conference Report.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 30, 1974
MEETING ON CAMPAIGN REFORM
Wednesday, September 4, 1974
2:00 p.m. (20 minutes)
The Cabinet Room
From: Ken Cole
I.
PURPOSE
To discuss with senior staff the best position on the campaign reform issue.
II.
BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS & PRESS PLAN
A.
Background: Conferees have been named for House and Senate versions
of campaign reform legislation. Although the versions differ materially
from each other, neither one is close to the legislation you help develop
as Vice President. These differences are summarized at Tab A.
B.
Participants:
Anne Armstrong
Bob Hartmann
Dean Burch
John Marsh
Ken Cole
Bill Timmons
Domestic Council Staff: Geoff Shepard
C.
Press Plan: Announced event. Press photo.
III.
SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
1.
Are there any of the areas analyzed at Tab A upon which the Adminis-
tration should be willing to compromise?
2.
What should the posture of the President be with regard to the requested
individual meetings with Chairman Hays and Rep. Frenzel?
3.
Are there any statements or events which the President or other
members of his staff should be engaging in now to better position
the President should he have to veto the legislation before November?
ELECTION REFORM LEGISLATION
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
1.
Public Financing
S. 3044 -- To be eligible for public financing in primary elections a House
candidate would have to raise contributions totalling $10,000; a Senate candi-
date the lesser of 20% of his expenditure limitation or $125,000; and a Presi-
dential candidate $250,000, with not less than $5,000 in matchable contributions
having been received from at least 20 states. Once having met the required
threshold, all additional dollar contributions not in excess of $100 ($250 for
Presidential candidates) would qualify for matching Federal payments up to
the appropriate expenditure limitation. In the general election campaign, a
major party candidate would be eligible to receive full public financing up to
the appropriate expenditure limitation. A minor party general election candi-
date would be eligible for proportionate public funding.
H.R. 16090, which is limited to Presidential elections, would make existing
Presidential Election Campaign Fund self-appropriating and would establish
within the Fund a Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account. General
election Presidential candidates could draw up to $20 million from the fund.
Each major party could draw up to $2 million from the fund to finance Presi-
dential nomination conventions. Minor parties would receive proportional
payments. Presidential primary candidates could receive payments from the
Matching Payment Account in amounts equal to the amount of each contribution
of $250 or less up to 50% of the appropriate expenditure limitation. Because
the size of the Fund would continue to depend on the tax check-off device, the
Matching Payment Account would not be available until payments are first
allocated to the funding of the general election campaign and the nominating
convention.
S. 3261 (Administration proposal last March) No public financing. Relies
instead on timely and complete public disclosure of financing.
2.
Contribution Limitations
S. 3044 -- $3,000 on individual contributions to a candidate; $6,000 organiza-
tion contributions to a candidate; $25,000 annually for individual contributions
to all candidates. Primaries and general elections would be considered as one
campaign.
H.R. 16090 -- $1,000 per election on individual contributions to a candidate;
$5,000 per election on political committee contributions to a candidate; $25,000
on all contributions by any individual in any calendar year.
-2-
S. 3261 -- $3,000 per Congressional election, $15,000 per Presidential
election, on individual contributions; no individual could make a contri-
bution to a political action group during a calendar year which, when added
to the sum of all other contributions made by that individual during that
year, exceeds $25,000.
3.
Expenditure Limitations
S. 3044 -- The following limitations apply to candidates accepting public
financing. Congressional candidates would be limited in primary campaigns
to an amount equal to 8¢ multiplied by the applicable voting age population,
or $90,000, whichever is greater. Such candidates from one representative
states may use an alternative figure of $125,000. General election Congressional
campaigns would be limited by an amount equal to 12¢ per eligible voter or the
same $90,000 figure, whichever is greater. The alternative amount for general
election candidates from one-representative states would be $175,000. Presi-
dential candidates would be subjected to state primary and general election
limitations equal to twice the limitation applicable to a Senatorial candidate
from that state subject to an overall limitation for expenditures throughout the
United States of 10¢ per eligible voter. The spending limits could be increased
by a cost-of-living escalator.
H.R. 16090 -- A Presidential candidate could spend no more than $10 million
for his nomination and $20 million in the general election campaign. A Senate
candidate would be limited to the greater of $75,000 or 5¢ a voter in each of
the primary and general elections. A House candidate could expend no more
than $60,000 in each of the primary and general elections. The spending limits
could be increased by a cost-of-living escalator.
S. 3261 -- No expenditure limitations -- again relies on public disclosure.
4.
Enforcement Authority
S. 3044 -- Would establish a Federal Election Commission independent of the
executive branch composed of the Comptroller General (non-voting) and seven
members appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate of which two members not from the same party shall be chosen from
recommendations by the President pro tem upon the recommendations of the
Senate majority and minority leaders and two members not from the same party
shall be chosen from recommendations by the Speaker upon recommendations
of the House majority and minority leaders. The Commission would have
complete enforcement authority including the authority to prosecute election
law criminal offenses.
-3-
H.R. 16090 -- Establishes, in addition to the existing supervisory officers,
a seven member Board of Supervisory Officers to be composed of the Secretary
of the Senate, the Clerk of the House, the Comptroller General, two individuals
not of the same party appointed by the President of the Senate upon the recommen-
dations of the Senate majority and minority leaders, and two individuals not of
the same party appointed by the Speaker upon the recommendations of the House
majority and minority leaders. The Senate and House appointees cannot be
employees of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of government.
Although the Attorney General would continue to supervise judicial enforcement,
the Board would be authorized to render advisory opinions and to monitor the
progress of cases referred to the Attorney General.
S. 3261 -- Would establish an independent Federal Election Commission to be
composed of the chairman of the national committees of the major political parties
(non-voting) and five members appointed by the President with the advice and
consent of the Senate, no more than three of whom shall be from the same
political party. Actual enforcement would be by the Attorney General.
5.
Effect on Republican Party of H.R. 16090
Three items in the House bill combine to threaten the end of the Republican Party:
the $5,000 limit on donations it can give to any candidate (being treated just like
any other special interest group); the optional $2 million public financing of
nominating conventions is really mandatory because the bill also eliminates
Section 276 (c) of the Tax Code which allows businesses to deduct ads in con-
vention programs -- the present form of Republican convention financing; and
the proposed expenditure limits of $60,000 per race which virtually guarantees
incumbent reelection and therefore continuance of the Democratic majority.