THE FEDERAL ELECTIO

COMMISSIO

1325 K Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20463 

Volume 3, Number 3 

FEC RECOMMENDS CHANGES 

IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW 

On February 8, 1977, the Federal Election Commission approved for Congressional review a list of suggested 

changes in the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act). 

Grouped under seven categories, these recommendations 

attempt to provide a more simplified, effective system of 

regulating campaign financing. Commissioners did not 

endorse each recommendation unanimously; rather, they 

offered this list as a general guide to areas Congress might 

wish to examine and revise. Major recommendations are 

summarized below: 

I. SIMPLIFICATION 

The following suggestions would simplify the Act and 

reduce the number of reports by between 50 and 90 percent, while enhancing the public's ability to glean important data from the reports. 

A. Candidate and Principal Campaign 

Committee Reporting 

Eliminate double reporting by candidate and his/her 

principal campaign committee by allowing .one or the other 

to file complete campaign reports. 

B. New Filing Dates: Reduced Number of Reports 

In nonelection years, require all political committees and candidates to file only two reports: July and 

year-end. Permit multicandidate committees to file on 

monthly basis. 

During election years, eliminate post-election 

reports and: 

1. Require House and Senate candidates and 

committees to file quarterly (including year-end) reports 

and 12-day pre-election report. 

2. Permit Presidential candidates and committees to 

file monthly reports (in lieu of pre-primary report for each 

primary). 12-day pre-general election report and year-end 

report. 

3. Permit multicandidate committees to file either 

on a monthly basis or on a quarterly basis, including 12-day 

pre-primary, pre-general election and year-end reports. 

March 1

C. Multicandidate Committee Registration 

Eliminate requirement that multicandidate com

tees file amendments to their registration statements 

time they support a new candidate. 

D. Contribution Limitations 

Change contribution limits from a "per elec

basis to an "annual" or "election cycle" basis. 

E. Point of Entry 

Make Commission the sole point of entry for 

closure documents filed by Federal candidates and pol

committees. 

F. Written Pledges 

Modify requirements so that candidates and 

mittees keep records of written pledges, but do not r

them. 

(Continued on 

NEW POLICY 

FOR THE RECORD 

With its January 1977 issue, the Record initiated 

new policy of reporting on all ·actions taken by t

Federal Election Commission. Appearing month

the Record now summarizes all advisory opinion

policy statements, proposed regulations, complian

matters, internal procedures, changes in staff a

organization, legislative developments pertinent 

campaign financing and other matters of interest 

those involved in Federal election campaigns. 

Commission actions are described under appropri

headings, such as "Policy Statements" or "Opinion

The absence of a heading in any given issue means t

Commission took no action in that area during t

month under review. 

Readers interested in the inclusion of additio

topics are encouraged to address their suggestions 

the Record, Federal Election Commission, 1325 

Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20463. 
FEC RECOMMENDS CHANGES 

IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW !Continued! 

G. Independent Expenditures 

Raise threshold for the reporting of independent 

expenditures from $100 to $250. 

H. Contributors to Those Making 

Independent Expenditures 

Eliminate requirement that contributors report contributions given to those making independent expenditures; 

instead, require persohs disclosiiig their independen~ expenditures to report sources of any contributions (exceeding 

$100) they receive to support their independent expendi· 

tures. 

I. Trade Associations 

Permit a trade association which has received 

approval from a member corporation to solicit its executive 

and administrative personnel to continue such solicitations 

until the corporation revokes its approval. 

II. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 

A. Delegate Selection 

1. Bring delegates under the Act. 

2. Exempt the following disbursements from 

reporting requirements and limitations on contributions 

and expenditures: delegate travel and subsistence costs 

related to attending a caucus or convention; and State and 

local party disbursements for meetings, caucuses or conventions related to delegate selection. 

3. Require delegates formally "authorized" by a 

Presidential candidate to function as the candidate's agents, 

for purposes of reporting and complying with contribution 

and expenditure limitations. 

4. Require delegates "not authorized" by any 

candidate to report to the FEC when they receive contributions or make expenditures in excess of $1,000. 

5. Allow contributors to give up to a total of 

$1,000 ($5,000 in case of multicandidate committees) to 

all delegates together. 

B. Incidental Support of Presidential Nominees 

Give Congressional candidate separate sPending 

limit for including in campaign materials the support, listing 

or mention of a (publicly funded) Presidential nominee. 

C. State-by-State Expenditure Limits in Primary 

Apply retroactively the State-by-State expenditure 

limits to Presidential candidates who request public matching funds after they have campaigned in several primaries, 

with the result that a candidate exceeding the limitS in the 

early primaries would not be eligible for matching funds. 

D. Issue-Oriented Candidacies 

Require that "written instruments" submitted in 

support of matching fund requests include name of candidate in order to weed out attempts to use public funds to 

promote issue-oriented groups. 

E. Fundraising Exemption 

Eliminate the 20 percent fundraising exemption for 

Presidential campaigns and raise the expenditure limit 

accordingly. 

2 

Ill. CONTRIBUTION AND EXPENDITURE LIMITATION

AND THE ROLE OF THE POLITICAL PARTY 

A. State Party Spending on Behalf 

of Presidential Nominee 

Allow State party committees to expend up to t

greater of $20,000 or $.02 times the voting age populati

on behalf of. their party's Presidential nominee. 

B. Local Party Spending on Behalf 

of Presidential Nominee 

Allow local and subordinate party committees 

make unlimited distribution of campaign materials a

paraphernalia normally connected with volunteer activiti

(e.g., pins, bumper stickers and pamphlets, but not bi

boards, mass mailings or media advertising). Require di

closure of such disbursements. 

C. Contribution Limits 

No specific recommendations. Commission urge

Congress, however, to set new limitations which neith

"strangle citizen participation and reduce the flow 

information to the voters" because they are too low n

"reduce public confidence and open the door to speci

interest influence" because they are too high, 

D. Expenditure Limits 

Commission offered no specific recommendation

but suggested Congress establish limits for publicly funde

candidates at sufficiently high level to allow candidates an

political parties to wage vigorous campaigns. 

E. Contributions by Minors 

Consider contributions by children under 16 as con

tribUtions made by the parent and subject to the parent

contribution limits, if the minor's contributions to on

candidate aggregate over $100. 

F. Multicandidate Committee Status 

Require a political committee to contribute a thres

hold amount to each of five candidates before it becomes 

"qualified multicandidate committee" (entitled to mak

contributions of $5,000 per candidate, per election). 

IV. CORPORATE AND UNION ACTIVITY 

A. Honorariums 

Prohibit corporations and labor organizations from 

giving honorariums to Federal candidates. 

B. Registration and Get·Out·the-Vote 

Allow corporations and labor organizations to con

duct (without sponsorship by a nonpartisan organization

nonpartisan registration and get-out-the-vote activitie

aimed at the general public. 

V. CLARIFICATION 

A. Legislatively Appropriated Funds 

Commission recommended that Congress clarify us

of appropriated funds in connection with Federal elections

Issues include use of government cars and airplanes, ma

terials produced by the House and Senate recording studio

and government-paid staff. 

B. Voluntary Services 

Commission suggested Congress circumscribe cam

paign use of volunteer prOfessional services when they are 

not donated directly to the candidate or his campaign 

committee. 
• 

• 

• 

VI. MISCELLANEOUS 

A. Draft Movements 

Extend the Act's restrictions and limits on contribu~ 

tions and its reporting requirements to committees organized to persuade an individual to become a Federal candidate. 

B. 48-Hour Reports 

Require multicandidate committees making contributions to disclose contributions of $1,000 or more if made 

after the 15th day, but more than 48 hours, before an election. 

C. Conciliation Period 

Shorten mandatory conciliation period from 30 to 

15 days. 

D. Legislative Days 

Reduce the 30 legislative days required for Congressional review of Commission regulations to 15 legislative 

days. 

E. Private Benefit 

Impose strict controls on campaign activities conducted for the private profit of the candidate or committee, 

particularly in cases involving conversion of political funds 

to personal use. 

F. Multiyear Authorization 

Give Commission multiyear authorization of appropriations. 

G. Criminal Code Provisions 

~Clarify and review 18 U.S.C. 592-607 to resolve 

ambiguities and jurisdictional conflicts. 

VII. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT 

Any candidate for Federal office or any one of his or 

her authorized committees must file a quarterly report by 

April 10, 1977, if the candidate alone, or all the authorized 

committees collectively or the candidate and the committees together, have raised and spent a total of more than 

$5,000 between January 1 and March 31, 1977. All other 

political committees must file the quarterly report if either 

contributions or expenditures exceed $1,000 during the 

quarter. Quarterly reports must be filed on FEC Form 3 or 

FEC Form 6 (short form). If the candidate or committee is 

not required to file a report because it is not financially 

active, it must nevertheless file FEC Form 3a (postcard 

form) or a letter with the same information. 

SPECIAL ELECTIONS 

Three special elections have been scheduled to fill 

Congressional seats left vacant by Congressmen Robert 

Bergland of Minnesota (7th district), Brock Adams of 

Washington (7th district) and Andrew Young of Georgia 

(5th district). The special election dates are: 

Minnesota 

Georgia 

Washington 

Primary 

February 8 

April 5 

General 

February 22 

March 15 

May 17 

Run-Off 

April 5 

3 

For these and any future special elections, the Informa

Office will inform candidates, by mail and telephone

their registration and reporting requirements and pro

them with necessary forms. 

MONTHLY REPORTING 

PERMITTED IN 1977 

Political committees which make contributions 

expenditures to support Federal candidates in more 

one State and plan to participate in special elections 

ducted in 1977 (to date, special elections are schedule

Minnesota, Georgia and Washington) may prefer to re

on a monthly basis. Any committee operating in more 

one State may request and receive Commission approv

file monthly reports in 1977, instead of quarterly and 

and post-election reports. Due by the 1Oth of the mo

reports must be complete as of the last day of the prece

month. 

Committees reporting monthly may at any time, u

request and Commission approval, revert to reporting 

quarterly basis. Once quarterly (and pre- and post-elec

reporting is resumed, however, a subsequent reques

the same committee for monthly reporting in 1977 w

normally be rejected to avoid administrative confusion . 

All political committees which filed on a monthly sche

in 1976 (other than Presidential campaign committees) 

be sent a special form for requesting monthly reporting 

information pertinent to monthly reporting in 1977. 

ADVISORY OPINIONS: 

SUMMARIES 

Until Commission regulations are officially pro

gated, the Commission will continue to issue two typ

opinions: 

1. Advisory Opinions, designated as AO's, concern 

application of the Act to specific factual situat

Any person requesting an advisory opinion wh

good faith acts in accordance with the findings o

opinion will not be penalized under the Act. 

opinion may also be relied upon by any other p

involved in a specific transaction which is ind

guishable in all material aspects from the activit

cussed in the advisory opinion. 

2. Informational Responses· to Advisory Op

Requests, designated as Re: AOR's, differ from AO

that they are based in part on the Commission's 

posed regulations and they offer no legal protecti

recipients until the regulations on which they are 

go into effect. 
Requests for advisory opinions are made public at the Commission and described in the Federal Register. All the opinions issued January 18- February 7, 1977, are summarized 

below. Those seeking guidance for their own activity should 

consult the full text of an opinion and not rely on the 

synopsis given here. Copies of AO's and Re: AOR's are 

available from Public Records, Federal Election Commission, at a cost of 10 cents per page. Please identify opinions 

by number as, for example, AO 1976-83 or Re: AOR 

1976-98. 

Re: AOR 1976-94: Payroll Deduction Plan Used by 

Trade Association PAC 

Section 114.8(e)(3) of the Commission's proposed regulations (submitted to Congress on August 3, 1976, and 

published in the Federal Register August 25, 1976) explicitly prohibits a corporation which belongs to a trade 

association from using a payroll deduction plan to facilitate 

contributions from its executive and administrative Personnel to the trade association's political action committee 

(PAC). However, in the specific case of the Connecticut 

Insurance Political Action Committee (CIPAC), established 

by the Insurance Association of Connecticut (a trade 

association), otherwise proper contributions made by payroll deduction on or before August 25, 1976, are permissible since an earlier draft of proposed regulations (published in the Federal Register May 26, 1976, to elicit public 

comment, but never adopted) permitted member corporations to use such a payroll deduction system. Following 

public hearings, the Commission formally approved the 

proposed regulations prohibiting the use of payroll deductions to facilitate contributions to a trade association PAC. 

(Length: 3 pages.) 

Re: AOR 1976-105: Activity of Political 

Action Committee Established 

by Membership Organization 

Ttie advisory opinion procedure may not be used to obtain 

Commission approval of the Articles of Organization proposed by the American Institute of Certified Public 

Accountants (AI CPA) to govern the operations of its political action committee {the committee). The Commission 

may, however, respond to specific, factual issues addressed 

in that statement. Eligibility to participate in the committee's activities and membership in the committee expand 

neither the class of individuals to whom AI CPA may make 

partisan communications funded from its general treasury, 

nor the class of individuals who may be solicited by either 

AI CPA or the committee. (Length: 4 pages.) 

AO 1976-108: National Party Committee Expenditures 

on Behalf of Congressional Candidates 

Specified party campaign committees, such as the National 

Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), are considered national party committees. Funds may be transferred 

between party committees without limitation. If, therefore, 

the Republican National Committee (RNC) designates th

NRCC as its agent for making general election expenditure

on behalf of House candidates, funds of either the NRCC o

the RNC may be expended on behalf of a candidate fo

Congress. The limit on national party expenditures fo

Congressional candidates applies, however, to the nationa

party as a whole (including all its committees), not to eac

committee separately. If the RNC designates as its spendin

agent a committee which is not a committee of the Repub

lican Party, the RNC would have to provide the fundin

since transfers by a nonparty agent to the RNC would b

limited to $20,000 or $15,000 per year. (Length: 3 pages.

Re: AOR 1976-109: Activity by National Bank's 

Separate Segregated Funds 

The Society National Bank of Cleveland (Society National)

the Society Corporation which owns the stock of Societ

National, and other banks also owned by Society Corpora

tion may each participate in the establishment and mainte

nance of two separate segregated funds: 1) SOPAC, create

to support candidates for Federal office and 2) the Associa

tion, established to support candidates for State and loca

office only. Such participation may include the defrayin

of expenses incurred in the establishment and administra

tion of the separate segregated funds and in the solicita

tion of voluntary contributions to them. SOPAC, as 

registered, political committee, would fulfill its reportin

obligations under the Act by filing reports with the FEC 

and copies of such reports with appropriate State officers

As long as the Association does not contribute to Federa

candidates or political committees, and none of its receipt

or disbursements are "contributions" or "expenditures-

under the Act, the Association would not be a politica

committee and therefore would not be subject to the Act'

reporting requirements. (Length: 5 pages.) 

Re: AOR 1976-114: Use of Excess Campaign Funds 

Congressman Joseph Early may use excess campaign fund

to defray telephone costs incurred in the ordinary course o

his official duties. If the disbursements for phone calls ar

made from an office account, to which the excess campaign 

funds were first transferred, they would be subject to th

reporting requirements set forth in the Commission'

proposed regulations on office accounts, section 113.4

(Length: 2 pages.) 

AO 1976-116: Expenditures by 

Principal Campaign Committee 

Congressman Mario Biaggi's principal campaign committe

may make expenditures in 1977 for a book and screenplay 

about the Congressman's life, intended to influence th

Congressman's future election. These expenditures mus

be reported, as must all disbursements by a political com

mittee. (Length: 2 pages.) 

The. RECORD is published by the Federal Election Commission, 1325 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20463. 

Commissioners are: Vernon W. Thomson, Chairman; Thomas E. Harris, Vice-Chairman; Joan D. Aikens; William L. 

Springer; Neil Staebler; Robert 0. Tiernan; Francis R. Valeo, Secretary of the Senate, Ex Officio; Edmund L. Henshaw, 

Jr., Clerk of the House of Representatives, Ex Officio. 

For more information, call 3824733 or toll free 800424-9530. 

4 
• 

INFORMATION LETTERS: 

SUMMARIES 

Information letters, designated as 0/R's, are responses 

from the legal staff to queries from individuals who lack 

legal standing to obtain an advisory opinion. While they 

do not offer the legal protection afforded by formal advisory opinions, they nevertheless demonstrate how the Act 

works in specific situations. 0/R's are available from Public 

Records, Federal Election Commission, at a cost of 10 

cents per page. Please identify the information letter by 

number as, for example, 0/R 714. 

0/R 847: Raffle As Permissible Fundraising Method 

A Republican county committee in Vermont may use a 

raffle (if permissible under State and local laws) to raise 

funds to support Federal candidates and political committees. The price of the ticket is considered a "contribution" 

by the purchaser to the county committee (or the State 

committee if the committees are affiliated) and counts 

against the purchaser's $5,000 annual limit on contributions to a political committee, and against his or her 

$25,000 annual limit on aggregate campaign contributions. 

The county committee must report total ticket proceeds as 

well as the name, address, occupation and principal place of 

business of any person whose ticket purchases, combined 

with other contributions to the county committee during 

the calendar year, exceed $1 00. 

Incorporated businesses may not donate raffle prizes to any 

committee which raises funds related to Federal elections. 

Noncorporate businesses and merchants, however, may do 

so. Receipt of suh a donation would be subject to the 

Act's contribution limits and reporting requirements. 

(Length: 3 pages.) 

AMENDED REGULATION PERMITS LIMITED 

POST-ELECTION MATCHING PAYMENTS 

FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY CANDIDATES 

The Commission adopted on February 2, 1977, an 

amendment to the proposed matching fund regulation sub· 

mitted to Congress on January 11, 1977 (originally submitted to Congress on August 26, 1976). The amendment 

will be formally submitted to Congress if the proposed 

primary matching fund regulation sent to Congress on 

January 11 is not disapproved by either house during the 

30-day legislative review period. 

The substance of the amendment was published for public 

comment in the Federal Register on October 18, 1976 (41 

FR 45952), along with the original version. As adopted by 

the Commission on February 2, section 134.3(c)(2) now 

permits the Commission to match post-primary election 

contributions (received and deposited by December 31, 

1976) to the extent that the total of contributions and 

matching funds received after the ineligibility date (i.e., the 

5 

date on which the Presidential primary candidate ceases 

be a candidate) does not exceed the candidate's outstandin

net debt on the date of ineligibility. 

Under the old formula (which did not contemplate th

situation where a candidate would receive sufficient pos

eligibility private contributions to retire his primary debt

the Commission would match contributions up to th

amount of the outstanding debt on the date of ineligibilit

regardless of the funds raised privately after that date. 

partial repayment would be required, however, if the cand

date accumulated a surplus. The following examples illu

trate the difference between the originally proposed regul

tion (January 11) and the amended version (February 

1977): 

1. Presidential candidate X has a primary debt of $10

He raises $100 in contributions (by December 3

1976). Under the old formula, he is eligible to recei

an additional $100 in matching funds. (Any contrib

tions exceeding the amount of his debt would not 

matched.) Subsequently, candidate X is required 

repay the U.S. Treasury a portion of his cash surplu

corresponding to the proportion which his total matc

ing funds bare to his total receipts (all contributio

and matching payments). Under this procedure, cand

date X cancels his $100 debt with the contribution

but still receives an additional $100 in matching fund

only a portion of which he must repay. The remaind

may be used for any lawful purpose. 

2. Under the amendment adopted February 2, this is n

possible. If, for example, candidate X has a $100 de

on the date of ineligibility and receives (by Decemb

31, 1976) $100 in contributions, he would not 

entitled to any matching funds since his cash on han

is sufficient to retire his debt. If he raised only $6

the Commission would match up to $40, just enoug

to extinguish his $100 debt. 

RAMSEY CLARK et. al., v. 

FRANCIS R. VAL EO, et. al. 

Ramsey Clark, former candidate in the New Yor

Senate primary election, asked the U.S. District Court 

the District of Columbia for declaratory and injunctiv

relief against the operation of those provisions in th

Federal Election Campaign Act, as amended (the Ac

governing legislative review of rules, regulations and adv

sory opinions of the FEC. Under these provisions, regul

tions proposed by the Commission may not be promulgate

until they have lain before Congress for 30 legislative day

during which time either house may veto them. 

Clark argued that the "one·house veto" violated the cons

tutional principle of "separation of powers." Further, h

asserted, regulations would be tainted by Congressiop

influence on the Commission's decision-making proCes

He also claimed the procedure delayed promulgation 

Commission regulations, thereby denying him, as vot

and as candidate, protection of the Act. 
Intervening as a plaintiff on behalf of the Executive Branch, 

the Attorney General also requested an injunction against 

the "one-house veto," arguing that it intrudes "upon those 

areas reserved by the Constitution of the United States to 

the Executive Branch .... " 

The Federal Election Commission asked the Court to dismiss the complaint, arguing, inter alia, the case was not ripe 

for Court action since Congre.ss had not disapproved any 

regulation and the plaintiff had claimed no hardship resulting from compliance with the substance of a proposed regulation. 

The District Court certified a number of constitutional 

questions to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Concluding that the 

matter was not "ripe" for adjudication, the U.S. Court of 

Appeals returned the certified questions to the District 

Court unanswered, with instructions to dismiss. The 6-2 

decision was made on January 21, 1977. The Court said 

that Clark's case, as a candidate, vanished when he failed 

to win the primary in New York. As a voter, Clark had 

neither protested a specific veto action by Congress nor 

identified any proposed regulation tainted by the threat of 

veto or review. With respect to the constitutional issue 

raised by the one-house veto, the Court held the case was 

"unripe" because Congressional disapproval of a proposed 

regulation had not yet occurred. "Until Congress exercises 

the one-house veto," the Court said, "it may be difficult to 

present a case with sufficient concreteness as to standing 

and ripeness to justify judicial resolution of the pervasive 

constitutional issue which the one-house veto provision 

involves." 

SOCIALIST WORKERS 1976 NATIONAL 

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE et. al., v. 

JENNINGS et. al. 

In 1974, the Socialist Workers Party 1974 National 

Campaign Committee filed suit in United States District 

Court of the District of Columbia against the chief administrative officers of the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives and the General Accounting Office (GAO), charging 

that the disclosure provisions of the 1971 Federal Election 

Campaign Act, as amended (the Act) were unconstitutional 

as applied to the Socialist Workers Party because of alleged 

harassment directed against it. In October 1974, Common 

Cause intervened as a defendant in the case. Subsequently, 

in August 1976, the Socialist Workers Party amended its 

claim to add the Federal Election Commission and the U.S. 

Attorney General as defendants. In October 1976, all three 

defendants filed motions to dismiss the case; intervening 

defendant Common Cause did not. On January 17, 1977, 

the U.S. District Court: 

1. Denied the Federal Election Commission's motion to 

dismiss the case. The Court remanded the matter to the 

FEC, asking it to develop a full factual record and 

make specific findings of fact concerning the 

" ... present nature and extent of any harassment suffered ... " by the Socialist Workers as a result of the 

disclosure provisions of the Act. The findings are to 

be submitted to the Court within six months. 

2. Granted Attorney General Levi's motion to dismiss 

because he had expressly indicated no intention to 

enforce criminal sanctions against the Socialist Workers 

6 

Party while the matter was still pending before 

Courts and because the Federal Election Commiss

has exclusive primary jurisdiction over civil enfor

ment. 

3. Granted the administrative officers' motion to 

miss since their supervisory duties had been tra

ferred to the Federal Election Commission, but all

ed the Socialist Workers the right to pursue and co

plete discovery against these defendants as though th

remained parties to the action. 

BRIAN A. HAMPTON v. FEC 

In a suit filed in U.S. District Court in the District 

Columbia against the FEC, candidate Brian A. Hamp

charged the Commission with failing to enforce the Fede

Election Campaign Act, as amended (the Act) against 

opponent who allegedly failed to report contributions 

and expenditures from an office account (maintained 

support his activities as a state legislator). 

In a reply brief, the FEC asked that the case be dismis

on grounds that Hampton had failed to state a claim up

which the Court can grant relief. The Commission argu

that the F EC has discretionary power as to whether 

prosecute. "The Commission's decision under the Act 

dismiss complaints is not reviewable except for abuse 

[that] discretion," the FEC said. Since no claim of ab

had been made, the FEC argued, the case should be 

missed. 

PREPARATION AND RELEASE 

OF STATISTICS 

On January 21, 1977, the Federal Election Comm

sion approved a report of the Task Force on Statistics, e

blishing guidelines for the preparation and release of ca

paign finance statistics on the 1976 elections. By pu

cizing the areas in which the FEC will gather data, the Co

mission hopes to facilitate rational planning by ot

groups engaged in research on campaign financing and p

clude unnecessary duplication of Commission studies. 

Under these new guidelines, the Commission will coll

statistics in five categories: Presidential candidates (a

their supporting committees); Senate candidates (and th

supporting committees); House candidates (and their s

porting committees); Nonparty Committees; and Pa

Committees. Five teams of analysts in the Disclosure D

sion, who are also responsible for routine review of repor

will gather data for each of these categories. Collection 

statistics will be made according to specific priorities des

nated for each category, as listed below: 

Presidential Campaigns 

Figures from candidates receiving primary matchi

funds. 

Figures from candidates on the general election bal

in at least 10 States. 
• 

• 

Senate Campaigns 

Figures from candidates on the general election ballot. 

House Campaigns 

Figures from candidates on general election ballot. 

Nonparty Committees 

Figures from those committees with receipts or expenditures exceeding $100,000. 

Party Committees 

National party committees. 

For each category, the analyst teams will collect the following types of statistics: 

Total adjusted receipts (receipts less transfers, refunds, 

rebates and loan repayments). 

Total amount of contributions $100 or under (item· 

ized and unitemized). 

Total number and amount of contributions $101-$499. 

Total number and amount of contributions $500 and 

over. 

Total personal funds expended by candidates. 

Total receipts from nonparty committees. 

Total receipts from party committees. 

Total adjusted expenditures (expenditures less trans· 

fers, refunds, rebates and loan repayments). 

Total expenditures for fundraising (by Presidential 

campaigns only). 

Total expenditures for legal and accounting fees (by 

Presidential campaigns only). 

Total expenditures for direct contributions to Federal 

candidates (by party and nonparty committees only). 

Total independent expenditures on behalf of Federal 

candidates (by party and nonparty committees only) . 

Total other expenditures for Federal candidates (by 

party committees only). 

The Commission will begin to release these figures in April 

1977. 

CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF 

PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT 

Effective January 17, 1977, a separate Office of Planning and Management was instituted with overall authority 

for Commission planning and management review, as 

required of all Federal agencies. Headed by AI Keema, 

the new office assumes all functions previously assigned 

to the Planning and Analysis section within the former 

Disclosure and Compliance Division. 

Reporting directly to the Staff Director, the new office 

will evaluate the consistency of Commission programs 

with FEC objectives, review FEC reporting forms, deter· 

mine staff and program requirements for fiscal year 1979 

and monitor the impact on the Commission of any future 

legislative changes in the campaign finance law. 

7 

TRANSFER OF INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL 

TO THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL 

On January 31, 1977, the Investigation Section wa

transferred from the former Office of Disclosure and Com

pliance to the Office of General Counsel. The Commissio

recognizes that efficient enforcement of the Act require

close cooperation between the investigators of complianc

cases and staff attorneys. 

FEDERAL 

REGISTER 

FEC documents of general applicability are publishe

regularly in the Federal Register. These documents inclu

(but are not limited to) announcements of public hearing

proposed regulations, policy statements, edited requests f

advisory opinions, and periodic indexes to advisory opi

ions. 

The Federal Register is available for inspection at an

public library which is also a Federal depository or, b

subscription, through the Superintendent o.f Document

Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 2040

The following list identifies all FEC documents appearing 

the Federal Register between January 22 and February 1

1977: 

Federal Register 

Notice Title Publication Date Citation 

1977-6 Charter of 1-27-77 42 FR 533

Clearinghouse 

Advisory Committee 

1977·7 Advisory Opinion 1·27·77 42 FR 533

Requests 1976-119 

and 1977-2 

1977-8 Advisory Opinion 1·28·77 42 FR 539

Request 1977-3 

1977·9 Advisory Opinion 2·16·77 42 FR 950

Requests 1977-4 

and 1977-5 

NEW PHONES 

The Commission's telephone system will be converted 

to Centrex in mid-March. All phone numbers beginning with 382 will be changed. New numbers will be 

published in the RECORD. Note: There will be no 

change in the toll-free information number, 800424-

9530. 
CLEARINGHOUSE PUBLICATIONS 

The FEC Clearinghouse announces the availability of 

several publications pertaining to State elections. Those 

interested in purchasing one of these publications should 

identify the report by name and number and mail the 

appropriate remittance to: 

Sales Desk 

National Technical Information Service 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, Virginia 22161 

For information call 703-557-4650 

1. Election Law Survey 

A quarterly report issued under agreement with the 

American Law Division of the Library of Congress' 

Congressional Research Service, this series compiles 

and summarizes all Federal and State legislation and 

litigation relating to elections. 

1976 Survey, Report No. PB262141AS, Price: $9.75. 

1975 Survey, Report No. PB252219AS, Price: $11.75. 

1974 Survey, Report No. PB252237AS, Price: $11.00. 

1973 Survey, Report No. PB252236AS, Price: $11.75. 

2. Campaign Finance Survey 

This is a semiannual report issued under agreement 

with the American Law Division of the Library of 

Congress' Congressional Research Service. It contains 

summaries of all State and Federal Campaign Finance 

Legislation. 

Summaries, May 1976, Report No. PB255115AS, 

Price: $9.00. 

Charts, May 1976, Report No. PB255114AS, Price: 

$5.00. 

Supplement, September 1976, Report No. 

PB257226AS, Price: $4.50. 

3. Handbook of State Election Offices and Functions, 

September 1976, Report No. PB257816AS, Price: 

$9.00. 

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 

1325 K STREET, NW 

WASHINGTON, DC 20463 

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

This 255-page handbook describes the functio

election officials in each State and lists the name

addresses of all Federal and State election officials

4. Absentee Registration and Voting 

Summary, Report No. PB252234AS, Price: $6. 75

Produced under contract with Indiana Univer

School of Public and Environmental Affairs, this 

analyzes the procedural aspects of absentee registr

and absentee voting in each of the fifty States

volume concludes with an analysis of Fe

legislation affecting absentee voting and sp

recommendations for improving the absentee syste

Legal Memoranda, Report No. PB252235AS, P

$9.00. 

As a companion to the above summary, this vo

includes a set of legal memoranda describing 

absentee registration and voting law in each State 

specific State election code citations. 

5. Voting Equipment Report, Report No. PB25224

Price: $9.75. 

This report describes, analyzes and compares 11 t

of vote~counting equipment and includes data 

current research, development efforts and legisl

pertaining to State voting equipment. 

6. Experimental Voting Equipment, Report 

PB252240AS, Price: $4.50. 

Supplementing the preceding study, this report 

sents data on five experimental voting devices. 

7. Survey of Election Boards, Report No. PB252238

Price: $5.50. 

Containing comprehensive data on election admini

tion in the United States, this study is based mainly 

an extensive survey questionnaire sent to over 6

jurisdictions administering Federal elections 

percent of which responded). 

8. Computers in Elections, Report No. COM-75-11

Price: $6.00. 

Issued under agreement with the Institute for C

puter Sciences of the National Bureau of Standa

this report analyzes the use of computers in the v

counting process in a number of selected jurisdictio

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