Democratic and Republican parties certified for convention funding

The Democratic and Republican convention committees each received $16,356,000 from the U.S. Treasury for planning and conducting their respective 2008 Presidential nominating conventions. The Commission has certified that the parties' convention committees have met all eligibility requirements for public funding. 26 U.S.C. §9008(g) and 11 CFR 9008.3(a)(3) and (4).

The Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act permits all eligible national committees of major and minor parties to receive public funds to pay the official costs of their Presidential nominating conventions. Each major party convention committee is entitled to receive $4 million,(1) plus an adjustment for inflation (since 1974). 26 U.S.C. §9008(b)(1) and 11 CFR 9008.4(a). Initial payments are made by the U.S. Treasury on or after July 1 of the year preceding the Presidential election. Payments for an additional cost-of-living adjustment will be made in 2008. In exchange for public funding of the conventions, committees agree to certain requirements, including spending limits, the filing of periodic disclosure reports and detailed audits by the Commission.

The public funding portion of Presidential elections is financed by the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, which receives funds through dollars voluntarily "checked off" by taxpayers on federal income tax forms. The major parties received $14,924,000 for the 2004 conventions and $13,512,000 for 2000.

The 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc., will hold its convention in Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008. The Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention will have its convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, September 1–4, 2008.

1) Originally, the limit was $2 million, plus COLA. That figure was increased to $3 million, plus COLA, for the 1980 conventions and to $4 million, plus COLA, for the 1984 conventions.