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      FEC Record: Public funding
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      Convention funding eliminated

FEC Record: Public fundingConvention funding eliminatedApril 4, 2014 President Barack Obama signed legislation on April 3, 2014, that will end the public funding of presidential nominating conventions. One of the three components of the presidential public funding program, the convention grants have helped to finance every major party convention since 1976, as well as a minor party convention that qualified for funding in 2000. Under the program, each major party convention committee was entitled to $4 million plus a cost-of-living adjustment ($18.2 million in 2012), and minor parties could qualify for partial funding based on their nominee’s share of the popular vote in the preceding presidential election. Eligible minor parties could supplement their partial funding—up to the amount of the major party grant—with private contributions. In exchange for the public funds, the convention committees agreed to limit spending to the amount of the major party grant, and to undergo an FEC audit after the convention. Funded by the $3 tax checkoff, the two remaining components of the public funding program provide matching funds to eligible presidential primary candidates and grants to qualified general election nominees. Resources: Text of legislation [PDF]Public funding of presidential electionsThe $3 tax checkoffReport: The Presidential Public Funding Program (1993)
 Author
          Alex  Knott


Read next: Commission approves technical corrections to CFR (March 2014)
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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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