Your web browser is not supported You're using Internet Explorer, some features might not work. Please switch to another browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for a better experience.


An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Federal Election Commission | United States of America Calendar
           Glossary
          Search
              Search


Menu
      Home
      Campaign finance data
        All data
            Raising
            Spending
            Loans and debts
            Filings and reports
            Candidates
            Committees
            Bulk data
            Campaign finance statistics
        Find elections. Search by state or ZIP code
          Look up contributions from specific individuals
      Help for candidates and committees
        All compliance resources
            Guides
            Forms
            Dates and deadlines
            Trainings
        Learn about electronic filing
          Find and contact your committee's analyst
      Legal resources
        All legal resources
            Advisory opinions
            Enforcement
            Statutes
            Legislation
            Regulations
            Court cases
            Policy and other guidance
        Search across all legal resources
          Search guidance documents
      About
        All about the FEC
            News and announcements
            Commission meetings
            Mission and history
            Leadership and structure
            Reports about the FEC
            Careers
            Working with the FEC
            Contact
        Introduction to campaign finance and elections


- Home
- ›
        Legal resources
- ›
        Court cases
- ›
      REILLY v. FEC

REILLY v. FEC 
 REILLY v. FEC
 On October 18, 1996, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of   California, Oakland Division, dismissed this case.Clinton Reilly, doing business as California Democratic Voter Checklist,     asked the court to stop the FEC's investigation of him because he believed   the Commission had no jurisdiction over his for-profit operation.Mr. Reilly's slate mail business distributes lists of federal, state and     local candidates and advocates their election or defeat. Mr. Reilly sold and     donated space to candidates and initiative committees who wished to appear     on a slate card that he distributed to voters. He said Checklist was not a   political committee under the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act).As an alternative, Mr. Reilly asked the court to find that his business had     no reporting obligations under the Act other than reporting free or reduced-cost   space on the voting slate as independent expenditures.In a related case, *FEC v. California Democratic Voter Checklist*,     the court resolved many of the same issues raised in Reilly in the Commission's     favor. Accordingly, both Mr. Reilly and the FEC agreed to the dismissal of   this case.**Source:**  FEC *Record* -- January   1997.


This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.


About
          Careers
          Press
          Contact
   Privacy and security policy
          Plain language
          No FEAR Act
          Strategy, budget and performance
 Open government
          Protected Voices
          USA.gov
          Inspector General
          FOIA
 OpenFEC API
          GitHub repository
          Release notes
          FEC.gov status


Federal Election Commission
 The FEC's Twitter page
            The FEC's YouTube page Sign up for FECMail


Hide glossary Glossary Search terms