1. Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

2. Limited the amount that candidates could spend on advertising
Passed in 1971
Also known as the FECA
Limited the amount that candidates could spend on advertising
Required disclosure of the sources of Campaign Funds
Required PAC’s to register with the Government
As well as report all major contributions and expenditures

3. Allowed taxpayers to contribute $1 to subsidize presidential campaigns (Now $3)

4. 1974 Congress and President Ford signed major amendments to the FECA
Established more realistic limits on contribution and spending, tightened disclosure and provided for public financing

5. 1976 Amended again after the Buckley v. Valeo
This case overturned several FECA provisions on the grounds that they violated the 1st amendment
FECA now emphasized limitations on contributions as well as the system of public financing
Supreme court made a distinction between campaign spending and campaign contributions.
Congress may now limit the amount spent

6. Soft Money
FEC sought to encourage volunteer activities and party building by permitting unlimited amounts of money to be given to state parties
These could be given by nation political parties, corporations, labor unions, and individuals
This soft money has become a major loophole in campaign financing

7. Success Story of FECA Recent troubles
Presidential candidates in both parties, for the last 20 years, have accepted the limitations placed by FECA on fundraising and campaign spending.
Recent troubles
Until 2000, presidential candidates accepted partial public financing but since then only McCain has accepted them in both the primary and general election cycles.
The number of taxpayers checking the campaign subsidy on their income tax is also declining.