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 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
- ›
      Press releases: Hearings
- ›
      FEC Hears Testimony on Definition of Federal Election Activity

Press ReleaseFEC Hears Testimony on Definition of Federal Election ActivityDecember 16, 2009 For Immediate Release
            Contact:
            Judith IngramDecember 16 , 2009
            Mary BrandenbergerJulia QueenChristian Hilland**FEC HEARS TESTIMONY ON DEFINITION OF FEDERAL ELECTION ACTIVITY**
        WASHINGTON—The Federal Election Commission today held a public hearing on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) addressing the definition of Federal Election Activity. The NPRM explored possible modifications to the definitions of “voter registration activity” and “get-out-the-vote activity” in response to the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Shays v. FEC (*Shays III)*.
        “I’d like to thank all of the people who took the time and effort to comment on the proposed rules and, in particular, those who will appear as witnesses at this hearing to give us the benefit of their practical experience and expertise on issues raised by the proposed rules,” said Chairman Steven T. Walther as he opened the hearing.
        Regulations ultimately adopted by the Commission will implement part of the *Shays III* opinion that found invalid aspects of the rules promulgated to implement the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA).
        The Commission heard testimony from:
        Karl Sandstrom, on behalf of the Association of State Democratic Chairs
          Paul S. Ryan, on behalf of the Campaign Legal Center
          Brian Svoboda, on behalf of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
          Neil P. Reiff and Joseph E. Sandler, Sandler, Reiff and Young, P.C.
          Ron Nehring and John Phillippe, on behalf of the Republican State Chairmen’s Committee of the Republican National CommitteeTestimony focused on how the Commission could draft definitions of voter registration activity and get-out-the-vote activity that are compliant with the *Shays III*decision and recognize the practical experiences of state and local parties and candidate associations. The Commissioners re-opened the administrative record until January 6, 2010, to allow the witnesses to provide written responses to specific questions that were posed at the hearing.
        An audio file and transcript of the hearing will be available on the FEC website (www.fec.gov) in the near future.
        *The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.*
        *# # #*


Read next: FEC Announces Departure of Acting General Counsel Daniel A. Petalas
 More press releases »


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
          Accessibility statement
          Strategy, budget and performance
 No FEAR Act
          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
 This information is produced and disseminated at U.S. taxpayer expense.


Hide glossary Glossary Search terms