Campaign Transparency Act
Summary
The Campaign Transparency Act aims to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by eliminating the threshold for reporting the identification of individuals contributing to political committees in federal elections. Currently, the law requires reporting the identities of those whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year or election cycle. This bill seeks to remove this threshold, mandating the disclosure of all contributors, regardless of the amount.
The bill, introduced in the House of Representatives, targets increased transparency in campaign finance. It directly amends Section 304(b)(3) of the existing act, removing specific clauses that mention the $200 threshold.
The proposed changes would take effect for reports filed after the enactment of the Act, impacting future federal election cycles.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of the Campaign Transparency Act would be to increase the amount of information available to the public regarding the sources of funding for political campaigns. This could lead to greater accountability for political committees and candidates.
It may also deter individuals from making small contributions if they are concerned about their identities being disclosed. Conversely, it could encourage more significant contributions from those who are already subject to disclosure requirements.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in campaign finance, allowing the public to see who is funding political campaigns, regardless of the contribution size.
- Greater accountability for political committees and candidates, as they would need to disclose all contributors.
- Potential reduction in the influence of hidden money in elections.
- Empowered voters with more information to make informed decisions.
- May deter illegal or unethical contributions due to increased scrutiny.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential chilling effect on small-dollar donations due to privacy concerns.
- Increased administrative burden for political committees to track and report all contributions, regardless of size.
- Possible harassment or intimidation of donors who make even small contributions.
- The focus on individual donors might overshadow the influence of larger organizational donors.
- May not significantly impact overall campaign finance dynamics, as large donors already face disclosure requirements.
Constitutional Alignment
The Campaign Transparency Act aligns with the principles of free and fair elections, which are implicitly supported by the Constitution. While the Constitution does not explicitly mandate campaign finance disclosure, the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech is often balanced against the need for transparency to prevent corruption or the appearance thereof.
The Supreme Court has addressed campaign finance regulations, often weighing the balance between free speech and government interests in disclosure. This act could be seen as an effort to promote informed electorate, which supports the democratic process.
However, concerns about potential infringements on donor privacy could raise First Amendment challenges, requiring careful consideration of the balance between transparency and individual rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).