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 email 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 email 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 email us at info@fec.gov. Click here to receive the tips as an RSS feed.
| May 20, 2013 | May Reporting Reminder. Monthly filers are reminded that they have a report due, today, May 20, covering the month of April. Quarterly filers do not have a report due today. However, unlike monthly filers, if quarterly filers make contributions or expenditures in connection with special elections, they may have to file additional pre- or post-election reports. Thus, quarterly filers should refer to the FEC's compliance map if they make contributions/expenditures for special elections, to determine if an additional report is required. |
| May 14, 2013 | On-line Passwords for E-Filers. Beginning Wednesday, May 15, committees registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) will be able to go on-line to create a new electronic filing password, retrieve a forgotten password or change their existing e-filing password. The new system, available at http://www.fec.gov/elecfil/passwords.shtml, will eliminate the need to fax password requests to the FEC and wait for a response. For details, please consult our Record article on the new system. |
| May 7, 2013 | Trade Association or Membership Organization? Sometimes membership organizations are not sure whether the more specific rules for trade associations apply to them. While all trade associations are membership organizations under FEC rules, not all membership organizations are trade associations. For example, labor organizations and chambers of commerce fit into the broader definition of membership organization, but do not fit into the definition of a trade association. An organization is a trade association under FEC regulations if its membership is engaged in a similar or related line of commerce or business (i.e., all the members of the organization are in the same industry) and if the organization promotes and tries to improve the business conditions of its membership. To learn more about the rules that apply to trade associations, membership organizations and labor organizations, register now for the FEC's May 22 webinar for these organizations. (Note: Act fast as limited spaces in the webinar remain; in-person attendance is sold out.) |
| April 29, 2013 | RFAIs Are Not Spam. As mentioned in an earlier tip, the Reports Analysis Division now sends requests for additional information (RFAIs) via email. Make sure that you check your spam folder occasionally, to ensure that RFAIs sent to your committee are not ending up in it, and that you don't miss a deadline to respond to one! |
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.
FEC Record News Page
Reading articles posted on the FEC Record news page is one of the best ways to stay current on the law and your obligations as a treasurer. At the beginning of each month, the Commission compiles the previous month's articles into a print-friendly document and e-mails treasurers to let them know it's available. Additionally, an archive of every monthly Record from 1978 - present is available online. Sign-up to receive email notification when a new articles are posted.
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 (August 2011) [PDF]
- Campaign Guide for Corporations and Labor Organizations (January 2007) [PDF]
- Campaign Guide for Nonconnected Committees (May 2008) [PDF]
- Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees (July 2009) [PDF]
- Notice to All Campaign Guide Users (October 2011)
Brochures and Handouts
Technical Information: The PDF files may be viewed or printed using Adobe Acrobat Reader. The video presentations and interactive tutorials are available as either MPEG or SWF files. MPEG files may be viewed using a media player, such as Windows Media Player or Quicktime. SWF files may be viewed using Adobe Flash Player.
Brochure Title Advisory Opinions Best Practices for Committee Management Candidate Registration Committee Treasurers Compliance with Laws Outside the FEC's Jurisdiction HTML Contributions FEC and the Federal Campaign Finance Law La CEF y la Ley para las Campañas de Elecciones Federales
(en Español)Federal and State Campaign Finance Laws Filing a Complaint Foreign Nationals Independent and Coordinated Expenditures Internet Communications and Activity Joint Fundraising Local Party Activity Special Notices on Political Ads and Solicitations Separate Segregated Funds and Nonconnected PACs Testing the Waters Volunteer Activity Actividades Voluntarias
(en Español)Other
- Compliance Map
Click on your state to access reporting dates and other applicable compliance information, including independent expenditure periods, coordination timeframes, FEA and EC periods, as well as disclosure reports and ballot access information.
- Guideline for Presentation in Good Order (2008) (for Presidential campaigns seeking public funding) [PDF] [Word] [Appendices]
- Guidebook for Complainants and Respondents on the FEC Enforcement Process [PDF; 22 pages]
A summary of the FEC ’s general enforcement policies and procedures that provides a step-by-step guide through the agency’s enforcement process.
- Enforcement Procedures - FEC Directive 68 [PDF; 4 pages]
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).