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      Republican National Committee, et al. v. FEC

Republican National Committee, et al. v. FEC 
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            Documents
 Summary

  
  
    On May 23, 2014, a group of Republican party committees and committee chairmen filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to challenge the constitutionality of laws that prevent them from raising and spending funds outside the federal source and amount limitations to finance independent expenditures. The plaintiffs seek injunctive relief and a declaratory judgment that such restrictions violate the First Amendment.BackgroundThe Republican National Committee (RNC) and its chairman, and the Republican Party of Louisiana (LAGOP) and its chairman, would like to solicit and receive unlimited contributions to a separate account used solely to fund independent expenditures. The separate account would accept contributions not only from individuals, but also from corporations and unions. The Republican Executive Committees of Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, as well as LAGOP, would like to use existing funds raised outside the federal restrictions to pay for independent federal election activity.AnalysisThe Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act), as amended by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), prohibits party committees from soliciting, accepting or spending funds for federal election-related purposes that are not raised in compliance with the Act. 2 U.S.C. §441i(b)(1) and (c). In fact, national party committees may not raise or spend any funds that do not comply with the Act’s limits and prohibitions. 2 U.S.C. §441i(a). Currently, donors may contribute up to $10,000 per year to state and local party committees and up to $32,400 to national party committees. 2 U.S.C. §441a(a)(1)(B) and (D). Corporations and unions are prohibited from making contributions in connection with federal elections. 2 U.S.C §441b(a).A series of recent court decisions have concluded that the Act’s contribution limits and its ban on corporate and union expenditures cannot constitutionally be applied to funds nonconnected PACs raise and spend solely for independent expenditures. Based on these decisions, some nonconnected PACs have established separate bank accounts to finance independent expenditures using contributions that may exceed the Act’s limits and come from corporations and unions. The plaintiffs argue that the First Amendment requires that party committees be permitted to establish such accounts. The plaintiffs ask the court to grant injunctions to prohibit the FEC from enforcing the challenged provisions. They also seek a declaratory judgment that 2 U.S.C. §§441(a)(1)(B), (D) and 441i(a)-(c) are unconstitutional as applied to separate independent expenditure accounts created by any party committees, and that the prohibitions on state and local parties using funds raised outside federal limits to finance independent federal election activity are also unconstitutional.DismissalRufer, et al. v. FEC (Rufer) and RNC, et al. v. FEC (RNC) were both dismissed after the parties filed dismissal agreements with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.On November 19, 2014, the plaintiffs in RNC filed a Stipulation Dismissing Republican Plaintiffs with the court of appeals.  On December 2, 2014, the plaintiffs in Rufer filed both a Stipulation of Dismissal with the district court and a Joint Dismissal Agreement with the court of appeals.  On December 3, 2014, the plaintiffs in RNC filed a Stipulation Dismissing Plaintiffs and Action with the district court.  In all filings, the FEC noted that by agreeing to the dismissal, the FEC does not waive any rights or arguments that may apply in future cases.  On December 10, 2014, the court of appeals issued an order dismissing both cases.Source: FEC Record—December 2014; May 2014
 Documents

  
  
    Appeals Court (DC Circuit) (14-5241)Court decisions:Order (12/10/2014)Related documents:Joint Dismissal Agreement (12/02/2014)Stipulation Dismissing Republican Plaintiffs (11/19/2014)District Court (DC)Court decisions:Certification Order (09/22/2014)Memorandum Opinion (08/19/2014)Order (08/19/2014)Related documents:Stipulation Dismissing Plaintiffs and Action (12/03/2014)Defendant FEC's Reply in Support of its Motion to Allow Time for Discovery under Rule 56(d) (08/18/2014)Reply Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment (08/07/2014)Plaintiffs' Opposition to FEC's Rule 56(d) Motion (08/06/2014)Defendant FEC's Answer to Plaintiffs' Complaint (08/04/2014)Defendant FEC's Memorandum in Support of Motion to Allow Time for Discovery under Rule 56(d) and in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment (07/31/2014)Plaintiffs' Statement of Material Facts (07/14/2014)Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment (07/14/2014)Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment (07/14/2014)Plaintiffs' Reply Supporting their Amended Application for Three-Judge Court (06/23/2014)Defendant FEC's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Application for a Three-Judge Court (06/16/2014)Amended Application for Three-Judge Court and Memorandum in Support (05/30/2014)Verified Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (05/23/2014)


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.


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