The treasurer of a political committee registered with the Federal Election Commission is legally responsible for that committee's compliance with the federal campaign finance laws. The Commission has developed this page to help treasurers fulfill that responsibility.
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As you'll see, this page not only provides links to an array of helpful publications, online presentations and other pages, it also offers timely tips and reminders to help treasurers meet their obligations under the law. As an added feature, you can subscribe to receive automatic notification of updates to this page via RSS. We also invite you to ask questions, provide feedback and offer your own compliance tips by e-mail to info@fec.gov.
In addition to these online resources, the FEC staffs a toll-free information hotline (800-424-9530), and offers periodic educational workshops for treasurers. Please visit our Outreach page for details, and sign-up to receive program updates by e-mail at Conferences@fec.gov.
This section offers helpful tips -- both from the FEC and from your fellow treasurers -- to help you meet your obligations under the federal campaign finance law. To suggest a tip, please e-mail us at info@fec.gov. Click here to receive the tips as an RSS feed.
| August 25, 2008 | Contributions to Presidential Candidates. An individual may contribute up to $2,300 (multicandidate PAC: $5,000) to a Presidential candidate in the primary election campaign, whether or not the candidate accepts matching funds. (The $2,300 limit applies to the entire primary process, rather than to a single primary held in a particular state.) The primary election period ends on the date that the candidate accepts the nomination of the party. (For Democrats, that date will be 8/28/08, and for Republicans, that date will be 9/4/08.) After that date, a major party nominee who chooses to accept public funding for the general election may not accept any private contributions to further his election. An individual, however, may contribute up to $2,300 to the legal/accounting compliance fund of a publicly funded major party nominee (multicandidate PAC: $5,000). In the case of a major party nominee who is not publicly funded, an individual may contribute up to $2,300 (multicandidate PAC: $5,000) to the general election campaign. For more information, see the brochure Public Funding of Presidential Elections. |
| August 19, 2008 | August Reporting Reminder. Monthly filing committees are reminded that they have a report due Wednesday, August 20. Please note that the Commission does not have statutory authority to extend filing deadlines. Electronic filers are reminded that they must use the new version 6.2 electronic filing format (see the June 17 tip for details.) |
| August 11, 2008 | Now Appearing at Your County Fair: FEC Disclaimers! If your committee plans to maintain a booth or other presence at your county or state fair, be sure the literature you are distributing contains the appropriate disclaimer statements. Some items, such as bumper stickers, pins and tee-shirts, are exempt. Other items, such as brochures and yard signs, need a printed statement, enclosed in a box, that indicates who has paid for the communication, and if paid for by a party committee or PAC, whether it was authorized by a campaign. For more information, see the brochure Special Notices on Political Ads and Solicitations. |
| August 4, 2008 | 2008 Edition of Nonconnected Guide Now Available Online. The Campaign Guide for Nonconnected Committees has been updated and is now online at http://www.fec.gov/pdf/nongui.pdf. Hard copy will be available for order in a few weeks. This Guide is used by political action committees NOT sponsored by a corporation, labor organization or trade association. Instead, nonconnected committees include committees such as PACs sponsored by partnerships or LLCs, leadership PACs, and PACs organized by unincorporated groups of individuals. |
For more, visit our Timely Tips Archive.
This section provides links to publications designed specifically for committee treasurers. Additional publications are available in the FEC Library, through our Quick Answers pages and on our Publications page.
Monthly Newsletter
All committee treasurers automatically receive a free subscription to the FEC's monthly newsletter, the Record. Reading the Record each month is one of the best ways to stay current on the law and your obligations as a treasurer. Every issue of the Record from 1996 - present is available online. To subscribe to the Record, send an e-mail with your name and address to info@fec.gov.
Campaign Guides
Campaign Guides are compliance manuals for committees registered with the FEC. The guide supplements summarize relevant post-publication rules and opinions.
- Campaign Guide for Congressional Candidates and Committees (April 2008) [PDF]
- Candidate Guide Supplement (August 2008) [PDF]
- Campaign Guide for Corporations and Labor Organizations (January 2007) [PDF]
- Corporate Guide Supplement (August 2008) [PDF]
- Campaign Guide for Nonconnected Committees (May 2008) [PDF]
- Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees (August 2007) [PDF]
- Party Guide Supplement (August 2008) [PDF]
- 2008 Coordinated Party Expenditure (441a(d)) Limits [PDF]
- 2008 FEA Periods
Brochures
Brochure Title Advisory Opinions Alternative Dispute Resolution Program Candidate Registration Committee Treasurers Contributions Federal and State Campaign Finance Laws Filing a Complaint Foreign Nationals Independent and Coordinated Expenditures Internet Communications and Activity Local Party Activity Millionaires' Amendment
The Commission has released a statement concerning the June 26 Supreme Court ruling in Davis v. FEC. See http://www.fec.gov/press/press2008/220080725millionaire.shtml.Special Notices on Political Ads and Solicitations Separate Segregated Funds and Nonconnected PACs Volunteer Activity Other
- 2007-08 Contribution Limits
- Guideline for Presentation in Good Order (2008) (for Presidential campaigns seeking public funding) [PDF] [Word] [Appendices]
This section supplements the reporting and filing information contained in the publications listed above with links to additional information. Treasurers may also seek reporting and filing assistance from the Campaign Finance Analyst who reviews the committee's reports. To reach the Reports Analysis Division, call 1-800-424-9530 (press 5).