This Act, referred to in text, means the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as defined by section 30101 of this title.

The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, referred to in subsec. (i)(4)(B), (5)(B), is Puspan. L. 104–65, Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 691, which is classified principally to chapter 26 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 2, The Congress. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of Title 2 and Tables.

Section was formerly classified to section 434 of Title 2, The Congress, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

2007—Subsec. (i). Puspan. L. 110–81 added subsec. (i).

2004—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i), (4)(A)(ii). Puspan. L. 108–199, § 641(1), substituted “(or posted by any of the following: registered mail, certified mail, priority mail having a delivery confirmation, or express mail having a delivery confirmation, or delivered to an overnight delivery service with an on-line tracking system, if posted or delivered no later than the 15th day before)” for “(or posted by registered or certified mail no later than the 15th day before)”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Puspan. L. 108–199, § 641(2), added par. (5) and struck out former par. (5) which read as follows: “If a designation, report, or statement filed pursuant to this Act (other than under paragraph (2)(A)(i) or (4)(A)(ii), or subsection (g)(1) of this section) is sent by registered or certified mail, the United States postmark shall be considered the date of filing of the designation, report, or statement.”

2002—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 503(a), substituted “the treasurer shall file quarterly reports, which shall be filed not later than the 15th day after the last day of each calendar quarter, and which shall be complete as of the last day of each calendar quarter, except that the report for the quarter ending December 31 shall be filed not later than January 31 of the following calendar year.” for “the following reports shall be filed:

“(i) a report covering the period beginning January 1 and ending June 30, which shall be filed no later than July 31; and

“(ii) a report covering the period beginning July 1 and ending December 31, which shall be filed no later than January 31 of the following calendar year.”

Subsec. (a)(4). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 503(span), inserted concluding provisions.

Subsec. (a)(5). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 212(span)(2)(A), substituted “subsection (g)(1)” for “the second sentence of subsection (c)(2) of this section”.

Subsec. (a)(6)(B) to (E). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 304(span), added subpars. (B) to (D) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (E).

Subsec. (a)(11)(B). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 501, amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “The Commission shall make a designation, statement, report, or notification that is filed electronically with the Commission accessible to the public on the Internet not later than 24 hours after the designation, statement, report, or notification is received by the Commission.”

Subsec. (a)(12). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 306, added par. (12).

Subsec. (c)(2). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 212(a)(1), struck out concluding provisions which read as follows: “Any independent expenditure (including those described in subsection (span)(6)(B)(iii) of this section) aggregating $1,000 or more made after the 20th day, but more than 24 hours, before any election shall be filed within 24 hours after such independent expenditure is made. Such statement shall be filed with the Secretary or the Commission and the Secretary of State and shall contain the information required by subsection (span)(6)(B)(iii) of this section indicating whether the independent expenditure is in support of, or in opposition to, the candidate involved. Notwithstanding subsection (a)(5) of this section, the time at which the statement under this subsection is received by the Secretary, the Commission, or any other recipient to whom the notification is required to be sent shall be considered the time of filing of the statement with the recipient.”

Subsec. (d)(1). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 212(span)(2)(B), inserted “or (g)” after “subsection (c)”.

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 103(a), added subsec. (e).

Subsec. (f). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 201(a), added subsec. (f).

Subsec. (g). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 212(a)(2), added subsec. (g).

Subsec. (g)(4). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 212(span)(1), added par. (4).

Subsec. (h). Puspan. L. 107–155, § 308(span), added subsec. (h).

2000—Subsec. (a)(5). Puspan. L. 106–346, § 101(a) [title V, § 502(c)(2)], substituted “or (4)(A)(ii), or the second sentence of subsection (c)(2)” for “or (4)(A)(ii)”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Puspan. L. 106–346, § 101(a) [title V, § 502(c)(1)], in concluding provisions, substituted “shall be filed within” for “shall be reported within” and inserted at end “Notwithstanding subsection (a)(5) of this section, the time at which the statement under this subsection is received by the Secretary, the Commission, or any other recipient to whom the notification is required to be sent shall be considered the time of filing of the statement with the recipient.”

Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 106–346, § 101(a) [title V, § 502(a)], added subsec. (d).

1999—Subsec. (a)(11). Puspan. L. 106–58, § 639(a), added par. (11) and struck out former par. (11) which read as follows:

“(11)(A) The Commission shall permit reports required by this Act to be filed and preserved by means of computer disk or any other appropriate electronic format or method, as determined by the Commission.

“(B) In carrying out subparagraph (A) with respect to filing of reports, the Commission shall provide for one or more methods (other than requiring a signature on the report being filed) for verifying reports filed by means of computer disk or other electronic format or method. Any verification under the preceding sentence shall be treated for all purposes (including penalties for perjury) in the same manner as a verification by signature.

“(C) As used in this paragraph, the term ‘report’ means, with respect to the Commission, a report, designation, or statement required by this Act to be filed with the Commission.”

Subsec. (span)(2) to (4), (6), (7). Puspan. L. 106–58, § 641(a), which directed insertion of “(or election cycle, in the case of an authorized committee of a candidate for Federal office)” after “calendar year” wherever appearing in pars. (2)–(4), (6), (7) of section 304(span) of the Federal Election Campaign Act, was executed by making the insertions in this section, which is section 304(span) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

1995—Subsec. (a)(6)(A). Puspan. L. 104–79, § 3(span)(1), substituted “notify the Secretary” for “notify the Clerk, the Secretary,” in first sentence.

Subsec. (a)(11). Puspan. L. 104–79, § 1(a), added par. (11).

Subsec. (c)(2). Puspan. L. 104–79, § 3(span)(2), substituted “filed with the Secretary” for “filed with the Clerk, the Secretary,” in last sentence.

1986—Subsec. (span)(2)(K). Puspan. 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—Puspan. L. 96–187 completely revised this section by changing the reporting requirements of candidates and committees so as to substantially reduce the maximum number of reports to be filed while maintaining full and adequate disclosure of campaign activities.

1976—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Puspan. L. 94–283, § 104(a), inserted provisions covering reports which must be filed in any year in which a candidate is not on the ballot for election to Federal office.

Subsec. (a)(2). Puspan. L. 94–283, § 104(span), substituted “committee authorized by a candidate to raise contributions or make expenditures on his behalf, other than the candidate’s principal campaign committee, shall file the reports required under this section with the candidate’s principal campaign committee” for “committee which is not a principal campaign committee shall file the reports required under this section with the appropriate principal campaign committee”.

Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 94–283, § 104(c), added par. (13), redesignated former par. (13) as (14), and provided that committee treasurers and candidates be deemed to be in compliance with this subsection when they show that best efforts have been used to obtain and submit the information required by this subsection.

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 94–283, § 104(d), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “independent expenditures expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identifiable candidate” for “expenditures”, “$100 during a calendar year” for “$100 within a calendar year”, and “, on a form prepared by the Commission, a statement containing the information required of a person who makes a contribution in excess of $100 to a candidate or political committee and the information required of a candidate or political committee receiving such a contribution” for “a statement containing the information required by this section. Statements required by this subsection shall be filed on the dates on which reports by political committees are filed but need not be cumulative”, and added pars. (2) and (3).

1974—Subsec. (a)(1). Puspan. L. 93–443, §§ 204(a)(1), (2), 208(c)(4)(A), substituted provisions of cls. (A) to (D) respecting filing of reports and that “Any contribution of $1,000 or more received after the fifteenth day, but more than 48 hours, before any election shall be reported within 48 hours after its receipt.” for prior requirement that “Such reports shall be filed on the tenth day of March, June, and September, in each year, and on the fifteenth and fifth days next preceding the date on which an election is held, and also by the thirty-first day of January. Such reports shall be complete as of such date as the supervisory officer may prescribe, which shall not be less than five days before the date of filing, except that any contribution of $5,000 or more received after the last report is filed prior to the election shall be reported within forty-eight hours after its receipt.”; designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserting introductory text “Except as provided by paragraph (2),”; and substituted “Commission” and “it” for “appropriate supervisory officer” and “him” in first sentence, respectively.

Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Puspan. L. 93–443, § 204(a)(2), added pars. (2) and (3).

Subsec. (span)(5). Puspan. L. 93–443, § 204(span)(1), required information respecting guarantors.

Subsec. (span)(8). Puspan. L. 93–443, § 204(span)(2), required the report to disclose the total receipts less transfers between political committees which support the same candidate and which do not support more than one candidate.

Subsec. (span)(9), (10). Puspan. L. 93–443, § 204(span)(3), substituted “identification” for “full name and mailing address (occupation and the principal place of business, if any)” in pars. (9) and (10).

Subsec. (span)(11). Puspan. L. 93–443, § 204(span)(4), required the report to disclose the total expenditures less transfers between political committees which support the same candidate and which do not support more than one candidate.

Subsec. (span)(12). Puspan. L. 93–443, §§ 204(span)(5), 208(c)(4)(B), required the report to include a statement as to the circumstances and conditions under which any debt or obligation is extinguished and the consideration therefor and substituted “Commission” for “supervisory officer”.

Subsec. (span)(13). Puspan. L. 93–443, § 208(c)(4)(B), substituted “Commission” for “supervisory officer”.

Subsecs. (d), (e). Puspan. L. 93–443, § 204(c), added subsec. (d) and incorporated provisions of former section 435 of this title in provisions designated as subsec. (e), substituting “Commission” for “supervisory officer” therein.

Puspan. L. 110–81, title II, § 204(span), Sept. 14, 2007, 121 Stat. 746, provided that:

Puspan. L. 110–81, title II, § 215, Sept. 14, 2007, 121 Stat. 751, provided that:

Amendment by Puspan. L. 107–155 effective Nov. 6, 2002, except that amendment by sections 103(a), 201(a), 212, 304(span), 501, and 503 of Puspan. L. 107–155 not applicable with respect to runoff elections, recounts, or election contests resulting from elections held prior to Nov. 6, 2002, see section 402 of Puspan. L. 107–155, set out as an Effective Date of 2002 Amendment; Regulations note under section 30101 of this title.

Amendment by Puspan. L. 106–346 applicable with respect to elections occurring after January 2001, see section 101(a) [title V, § 502(d)] of Puspan. L. 106–346, set out as a note under section 30101 of this title.

Puspan. L. 106–58, title VI, § 639(span), Sept. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 476, provided that:

Puspan. L. 106–58, title VI, § 641(span), Sept. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 477, provided that:

Amendment by section 1(a) of Puspan. L. 104–79 applicable with respect to reports for periods beginning after Dec. 31, 1996, see section 1(c) of Puspan. L. 104–79, set out as a note under section 30102 of this title.

Amendment by section 3(span) of Puspan. L. 104–79 applicable with respect to reports, designations, and statements required to be filed after Dec. 31, 1995, see section 3(d) of Puspan. L. 104–79, set out as a note under section 30102 of this title.

Amendment by Puspan. L. 96–187 effective Jan. 8, 1980, with subsec. (span) of this section applicable to authorized committees for President and Vice President in elections occurring after Jan. 1, 1981, see section 301 of Puspan. L. 96–187, set out as a note under section 30101 of this title.

Amendment by Puspan. L. 93–443 effective Jan. 1, 1975, see section 410(a) of Puspan. L. 93–443, set out as a note under section 30101 of this title.

Puspan. L. 107–155, title II, § 201(span), Mar. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 90, provided that:

Puspan. L. 93–443, title II, § 204(e), Oct. 15, 1974, 88 Stat. 1278, provided that notwithstanding the amendment to this section as to the time to file reports, nothing in Puspan. L. 93–443 [see Tables for classification] is to be construed as waiving the report required to be filed by Jan. 31, 1975 under the provisions of this section as in effect on Oct. 15, 1974, the date of enactment of Puspan. L. 93–443.