United States
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Both direct and indirect donations of cash or other things of value are banned, as well as promising or implying donations.
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2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Both direct and indirect donations of cash or other things of value are banned, as well as promising or implying donations.
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3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Corporations and labor organizations may however establish Political Action Committees (PACs) where they can?raise voluntary contributions from a restricted class of individuals and use those funds to support federal candidates and political committees.
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4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
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5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
It is unlawful for labor organizations to make a contribution or expenditure in connection with any election to any political office.
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6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
It is unlawful for labor organizations to make a contribution or expenditure in connection with any election to any political office.
Source
http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304782404577488584031850026
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7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes, above certain threshold
Comment
If an anonymous cash contribution over $50 is received, the amount must be used for some purpose unrelated to federal elections.
Source
Individuals and Corporation can start or donate to a Super PAC and remain anonymous. A Super PAC's donors can remain totally anonymous as there is no law stating they must disclose their donors.
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8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes, above certain threshold
Comment
If an anonymous cash contribution over $50 is received, the amount must be used for some purpose unrelated to federal elections.
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9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations, personal services and material, supplies or equipment cannot be donated by a person or company that has entered a contract with a government department or agency. Source
"§ 441c. Contributions by government contractors (a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person— (1) Who enters into any contract with the United States or any department or agency thereof either for the rendition of personal services or furnishing any material, supplies, or equipment to the United States or any department or agency thereof or for selling any land or building to the United States or any department or agency thereof, if payment for the performance of such contract or payment for such material, supplies, equipment, land, or building is to be made in whole or in part from funds appropriated by the Congress, at any time between the commencement of negotiations for the later of (A) the completion of performance under; or (B) the termination of negotiations for, such contract or furnishing of material, supplies, equipment, land, or buildings, directly or indirectly to make any contribution of money or other things of value, or to promise expressly or impliedly to make any such contribution to any political party, committee, or candidate for public office or to any person for any political purpose or use" Source: Title 2, chapter 14, subchapter 1, section 441c (Source: United States Code, Title 2, The Congress) |
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations, personal services and material, supplies or equipment cannot be donated by a person or company that has entered a contract with a government department or agency. Source
"§ 441c. Contributions by government contractors (a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person— (1) Who enters into any contract with the United States or any department or agency thereof either for the rendition of personal services or furnishing any material, supplies, or equipment to the United States or any department or agency thereof or for selling any land or building to the United States or any department or agency thereof, if payment for the performance of such contract or payment for such material, supplies, equipment, land, or building is to be made in whole or in part from funds appropriated by the Congress, at any time between the commencement of negotiations for the later of (A) the completion of performance under; or (B) the termination of negotiations for, such contract or furnishing of material, supplies, equipment, land, or buildings, directly or indirectly to make any contribution of money or other things of value, or to promise expressly or impliedly to make any such contribution to any political party, committee, or candidate for public office or to any person for any political purpose or use" Source: Title 2, chapter 14, subchapter 1, section 441c (Source: United States Code, Title 2, The Congress) |
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations, personal services and material, supplies or equipment cannot be donated by a person or company that has entered a contract with a government department or agency. Source
"§ 441c. Contributions by government contractors (a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person— (1) Who enters into any contract with the United States or any department or agency thereof either for the rendition of personal services or furnishing any material, supplies, or equipment to the United States or any department or agency thereof or for selling any land or building to the United States or any department or agency thereof, if payment for the performance of such contract or payment for such material, supplies, equipment, land, or building is to be made in whole or in part from funds appropriated by the Congress, at any time between the commencement of negotiations for the later of (A) the completion of performance under; or (B) the termination of negotiations for, such contract or furnishing of material, supplies, equipment, land, or buildings, directly or indirectly to make any contribution of money or other things of value, or to promise expressly or impliedly to make any such contribution to any political party, committee, or candidate for public office or to any person for any political purpose or use" Source: Title 2, chapter 14, subchapter 1, section 441c (Source: United States Code, Title 2, The Congress) |
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations, personal services and material, supplies or equipment cannot be donated by a person or company that has entered a contract with a government department or agency. Source
"§ 441c. Contributions by government contractors (a) Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person— (1) Who enters into any contract with the United States or any department or agency thereof either for the rendition of personal services or furnishing any material, supplies, or equipment to the United States or any department or agency thereof or for selling any land or building to the United States or any department or agency thereof, if payment for the performance of such contract or payment for such material, supplies, equipment, land, or building is to be made in whole or in part from funds appropriated by the Congress, at any time between the commencement of negotiations for the later of (A) the completion of performance under; or (B) the termination of negotiations for, such contract or furnishing of material, supplies, equipment, land, or buildings, directly or indirectly to make any contribution of money or other things of value, or to promise expressly or impliedly to make any such contribution to any political party, committee, or candidate for public office or to any person for any political purpose or use" Source: Title 2, chapter 14, subchapter 1, section 441c (Source: United States Code, Title 2, The Congress) |
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Federal employees face limits to their involvement in election campaigns
|
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
Yes, for natural persons
Comment
See current limits at: http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.shtml#How_much_can_I_contribute Source
See table at: http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.shtml#How_much_can_I_contribute (Source: Federal Election Commission) |
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
There are different limits depending on the type of the contributor.
Comment
There are different limits depending on who contributes. See table at: http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.shtml#How_much_can_I_contribute
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16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
No
Comment
The existing limits for donations to national party committees are per calender year.? Source
Table available on the following site:http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.shtml#How_much_can_I_contribute (Source: Federal Election Commission (2011) The FEC and the Federal Campaign Finance Law,. Available at http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/fecfeca.shtml#Contribution_Limits. Published February 2011, Accessed 1/12/2011) Table available on the following site:http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.shtml#How_much_can_I_contribute (Source: Federal Election Commission) |
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
There are different limits depending on who contributes. See table at: http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.shtml#How_much_can_I_contribute Source
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19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
There are different limits depending on who the contributor is.
Comment
There are different limits depending on who contributes. See table at: http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_general.shtml#How_much_can_I_contribute
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20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
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21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
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22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
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23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
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24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
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27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, in relation to campaigns
Comment
Public funding is only provided to the party convention committees and candidates. Presidential candidates who accept the public funding must limit spending to the amount of the grant. There are public grants available for candidates in both the primary and general elections.
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29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Comment
Major parties are entitled to public funding, minor parties may be eligible if they fulfill certain criteria.
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30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Equal
Comment
Public funding is distributed equally between eligble major parties in the general election. Minor parties eligible for public funding recieves an amount which bears the same ratio to the major parties public funding as the number of popular votes recieved ?in the previous presidential election does to the average number of popular votes recieved by the major parties.?
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31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Presidential nominating convention
Comment
Funding is ear marked to be used for Presidential nominating conventions.
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32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
No
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33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Not applicable
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34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
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35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Comment
So called 527s (following section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code) are political organizations exempted from tax. They may not coordinate their activities with a candidate or a party.?
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36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
No
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37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Parties are subject to limits in relation to expenditure made in coordination with candidates (presidential and for federal office). However, there are no such limits for expenditure made without such coordination (independent spending).
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40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
The limit for coordinated expenditure is an amount equal to 2 cents multiplied by the voting age population of the United States.
Comment
However, these limits do not apply for expenditure made without such coordination (independent spending)
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41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
No
Comment
The expenditure limits is only applicable to candidates (presidential and for federal office) who accept public funding in the general election. Candidates who accept public funding must limit spending to the amount of the grant.
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42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
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43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
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44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Candidate committees, party committees and PACs are required to file periodic reports disclosing the money they raise and spend.
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Candidate committees, party committees and PACs are required to file periodic reports disclosing the money they raise and spend. Candidates must identify, for example, all PACs and party committees that give them contributions, and they must identify individuals who give them more than $200 [I$ 200] in an election cycle. Additionally, they must disclose expenditures exceeding $200 [I$ 200] per election cycle to any individual or vendor.
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49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Candidate committees, party committees and PACs are required to file periodic reports disclosing the money they raise and spend.
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50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
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51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The reports are available at www.fec.gov
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52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Sometimes
Comment
Reports must identify all PACs and party committees that give them contributions, and they must identify individuals who give them more than $200 [I$ 200] in an election cycle.
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53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
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54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
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55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
EMB
Comment
Federal Election Commission
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56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Comment
The Federal Election Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over the civil enforcement of the federal campaign finance law, while the Department of Justice prosecutes criminal violations.
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57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
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58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
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