Election Law: Campaign Finance

Interactive map from the FEC, includes downloadable spreadsheets.

DIsclosure data from the FEC.

Center for Responsive Politics website tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the organization aims to create a more educated voter, an involved citizenry and a more transparent and responsive government.

FEC list of acronyms, abbreviations, initials, and common names of federal political action committees (PACs), prepared to help researchers readily identify committees when their full names are not disclosed on campaign finance reports. Last updated Sept. 2014.

Includes historical summaries.

IRS site for filing and viewing copies of submitted Form 8871, Political Organization Notice of Section 527 Status, and Form 8872, Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures.

CRS report by R. Sam Garrett, Nov. 3, 2010.

Last updated 9/24/2018

CRS report by R. Sam Garrett, 2011.

CRS Insights, by R. Sam Garrett, May 19, 2015

CRS report updated Dec. 2018.

Supreme Court decision holding that the First Amendment bars limits on corporate contributions to political campaigns; that the federal statute barring independent corporate contributions to political campaigns violated the First Amendment; and that the disclaimer and disclosure provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 did not violate First Amendment, as applied to Citizens United’s film (and ads for the film) about Hillary Clinton.

SCOTUSblog coverage, includes docket, opinion, briefs, and commentary.

Montana Supreme Court decision that challenged Citizens United, finding that "Citizens United does not compel a conclusion that Montana’s law prohibiting independent political expenditures by a corporation related to a candidate is unconstitutional. Rather, applying the principles enunciated in Citizens United, it is clear that Montana has a compelling interest to impose the challenged rationally-tailored statutory restrictions."
The U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay pending petition for cert on Feb. 17, 2012. In granting the stay, Justice Ginsberg said "[a] petition for certiorari will give the Court an opportunity to consider whether, in light of the huge sums currently deployed to buy candidates’ allegiance, Citizens United should continue to hold sway." Reversed sub nom. Am. Tradition P'ship v. Bullock, 132 S.Ct. 2490 (2012).

SCOTUSblog coverage includes docket, Montana Supreme Court opinion, briefs, and commentary. Court held that Montana’s argument in support of the judgment below was either already rejected in Citizens United v. FCC or fails to meaningfully distinguish that case.
Brief of United States Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and John McCain as Amicus Curiae in Support of Respondents