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Issues
Campaign Finance
Voters have a right to know which wealthy special interests are spending big money to secretly influence our vote and our government to rig the political system in their favor.
CLC advocates for passing and enforcing strong campaign finance reforms that help guarantee a democracy responsive to the people.
These reform solutions include ensuring transparency in both the funding of and spending by political campaigns, placing reasonable limits on that funding and encouraging states and localities to adopt public financing of elections. CLC helps enact such policies at the state, local and federal levels, and works to ensure that the Federal Election Commission enforces current campaign finance laws. CLC also defends laws that ensure voters’ right to know who is spending to influence their vote and our government.
The Latest on Campaign Finance
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Key Initatives
On the Docket for Campaign Finance
Demanding Disclosure from Dark Money Nonprofits (Freedom Path v. IRS)
Pushing the FEC to Enforce the Law Against the NRA for Illegal Spending Coordination — Giffords v. FEC
Spotlighting the Trump Administration’s Corrupt Transactions
Recent Campaign Finance Cases and Actions
Social welfare nonprofits, known as 501(c)4s, receive tax-exempt status designated by Congress for groups operating “exclusively” for “social welfare.” The IRS’ lax interpretation of the law has enabled 501(c)4s to become major conduits for undisclosed election spending. Campaign Legal Center and CREW have filed an amicus brief urging the court to enforce the statute as Congress intended.
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Presidential pardon power is meant to correct injustice, not reward wealthy donors or political loyalists. Campaign Legal Center is working to protect equal justice under law by exposing abuses of the pardon power and advocating reforms that promote transparency, accountability and fair standards in the clemency process.
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President Donald Trump does not have absolute authority over the composition and operations of independent agencies, despite what he has claimed. Campaign Legal Center filed an amicus brief arguing that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and Election Assistance Commission (EAC), two such agencies, must remain independent to ensure free and fair elections.
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Mar 14
How Democracy Vouchers Make Elections More Inclusive: A Conversation With Jen Heerwig and Brian McCabe
On Friday, March 14, at 2 p.m. EST, Campaign Legal Center’s Aaron McKean was joined by authors Jen Heerwig and Brian McCabe to discuss their book, “Democracy Vouchers and the Promise of Fairer Elections in Seattle.” Heerwig and McCabe explored the success and impact of Seattle’s public financing model and how placing political money directly in the hands of voters through vouchers can level the campaign finance playing field, and empower more Americans to make their voices heard.
Friday, March 14th, 2025
02:00 pm - 03:00 pm ET • Virtual
Jan 16
15 Years of Citizens United: How Big Money Dominated the 2024 Election
On Thursday, January 16 at 11 a.m. EST, with the 15th anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC approaching, Campaign Legal Center held a conversation with campaign finance experts and elected officials on how that U.S. Supreme Court decision dominated the 2024 election.
Thursday, January 16th, 2025
11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET • Virtual
Jul 18
From Dysfunctional To Disastrous: The Concerning Direction the FEC Is Heading
On Thursday, July 18, at 1 pm EST, Campaign Legal Center, in conversation with key reporters and former Federal Election Commission actors, explored the impact of the FEC taking steps backward in the fight to regulate political spending.
Thursday, July 18th, 2024
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm ET • Virtual
Apr 25
Removing Financial Barriers to Running for Office
CLC hosted a discussion with experts and former candidates about these innovations — those that have already been implemented and others that have been proposed — and discussed what else can be done to break down financial barriers to running for office and make holding political office an obtainable goal for all Americans.
Thursday, April 25th, 2024
11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET • Virtual
