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Campaign Finance
Campaign Finance
The First Amendment guarantees every American the right to participate fully in the political process.
The dependence of persons running for office on wealthy special interests is a serious flaw in our political system, and makes elected officials responsive to their large donors and funders rather than to the public. The tremendous power of special interest money in politics often drowns out the voice of everyday Americans, threatens our First Amendment freedoms, and erodes the foundations of our entire democracy. To restore fairness to our political system, CLC advocates for passing and enforcing strong campaign finance reforms that help guarantee a democracy responsive to the people.
These reform solutions include placing reasonable limits on funding of campaigns as well as complete transparency of campaign spending. CLC helps enact such policies at the state and local levels, and works to ensure that the Federal Election Commission enforces current campaign finance laws at the federal level. CLC also defends in court laws that promote the First Amendment’s guarantee that every American has the ability to participate in the political process.
The Latest on Campaign Finance
Campaign Finance Cases and Actions
On September 26, 2019, a whistleblower complaint was made public that alleges President Donald Trump used the power of his office to solicit interference from Ukraine in the 2020 U.S. election. Further reports have revealed other alleged illegal acts by employees or associates of the Executive Branch. Campaign Legal Center is calling out the Trump White House for multiple violations of campaign finance and ethics laws.
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CLC sued the FEC after it deadlocked and dismissed CLC’s complaint alleging illegal coordination between Clinton’s campaign and the super PAC Correct the Record (CTR). CLC is suing the FEC to force it to hold CTR and the Campaign accountable for violating the laws designed to limit money’s influence on politics.
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CLC Action filed suit against the FEC after it failed to announce any action on four complaints alleging illegal coordination between the NRA and seven federal campaigns via common vendors. CLC Action is suing the FEC to force it to hold the NRA accountable for violating the laws designed to limit money’s influence on politics.
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Every eligible citizen should have a voice in our political process, not just the wealthy few.
CLC Provides Guidance at the State and Local Level
CLC works on the ground in cities and states fighting for a better democracy. We serve as an expert resource to citizen organizations working to improve democracy in their own neighborhoods. CLC provides model legislation, model ballot initiatives and specific expert guidance to help ensure that local reform measures are effective and will stand up in the courts.
CLC Tackles Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections
Partisan disputes over whether foreign meddling in 2016 impacted election results are not productive. Rather, we must devote national resources to addressing the host of vulnerabilities that the 2016 election exposed, or they will be further exploited in elections to come. Congress and the Federal Election Commission should take steps now to protect our democratic process, such as requiring identification of online political advertisers and updating 40-year-old disclosure laws by passing the bipartisan Honest Ads Act.
CLC Demands Enforcement of the Law
CLC supports the enforcement of campaign finance laws by filing complaints against government agencies, such as the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and participating in legal action against candidates, political parties and agencies who fail to uphold campaign finance laws. In keeping with our mission, CLC has taken action against candidates and organizations on both sides of the political aisle, and will continue to do so.
CLC Preserves Voters' Right to Know
Requiring disclosure of money spent in elections has been the bedrock of our political system for many years and has historically claimed widespread support from people across the political spectrum. But disclosure laws promoting transparency – or the voters' right to know – have come under relentless attack since the Supreme Court case Citizens United v. FEC.
Speak to one of CLC's legal experts