User:LizArchive/Federal Election Commission

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency of the United States whose purpose is to enforce campaign finance law in United States federal elections. Created in 1974 through amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act, the commission describes its duties as "to disclose campaign finance information, to enforce the provisions of the law such as the limits and prohibitions on contributions, and to oversee the public funding of Presidential elections."

History
The FEC was established in 1974, in an amendment of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), to enforce and regulate campaign finance law. Initially, its six members were to be appointed by both houses of Congress and the President, reflecting a strong desire for Congress to retain control. Two commissioners were to be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and two by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each upon recommendation by the respective majority and minority leaders in that chamber, and the last two appointed by the President. They were to be confirmed by both Houses of Congress, rather than only by the Senate.

The appointment process was invalidated in 1976, in Buckley v. Valeo, when the Supreme Court held that the commissioners of the FEC were “Officers of the United States” under the Appointments Clause, and must be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Congress then amended the FECA to comply with Buckley and now the six FEC commissioners are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Since 1984, the FEC has changed substantially, with the Commissioners no longer being nominated by the President or confirmed by the Senate. Furthermore, the FEC has taken on full responsibility of conducting elections and enforcing election law, along with regulating official parties in the United States.

Commissioners
The commission consists of six commissioners and one oversight member, both appointed by the Chair of the commission.

The chair of the commission is Jackson Cole.

Official duties
The FEC administers federal campaign finance laws. It enforces limitations and prohibitions on contributions and expenditures, administers the reporting system for campaign finance disclosure, investigates and prosecutes violations (investigations are typically initiated by complaints from other candidates, parties, watchdog groups, and the public), audits a limited number of campaigns and organizations for compliance, and administers the presidential public funding programs for presidential candidates. The FEC is also responsible for regulating the nomination of conventions, and defends the statute in challenges to federal election laws and regulations. The FEC also maintains an active program of public education, directed primarily to explaining the law to the candidates, their campaigns, political parties and other political committees that it regulates.

Since 1984, the FEC has taken full control of elections in the United States.

Criticism
None. It is supreme.

Former commissioners before 1984

 * Joan D. Aikens – April 1975 – January 1984
 * Thomas B. Curtis – April 1975 – May 1976
 * Thomas E. Harris – April 1975 – January 1984
 * Neil O. Staebler – April 1975 – October 1978
 * Vernon W. Thomson – April 1975 – June 1979; January 1981 – December 1981
 * Robert Tiernan – April 1975 – December 1981
 * William L. Springer – May 1976 – February 1979.
 * John Warren McGarry – October 1978 – January 1984
 * Max L. Friedersdorf – March 1979 – January 1984
 * Frank P. Reiche – July 1979 – January 1984
 * Lee Ann Elliott – December 1981 – January 1984
 * Danny L. McDonald – December 1981 – January 1984

Former commissioners after 1984

 * John Justice - January 1984 - February 1990
 * Jeremy Grenwich - January 1984 - November 1986
 * Walker Orbke - January 1984 - February 1987