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      FEC Record: Outreach
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      Contribution limits for 2011-2012

FEC Record: OutreachContribution limits for 2011-2012March 1, 2011 Under the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act), certain contribution limits are indexed for inflation every two years, based on the change in the cost of living since 2001, which is the base year for adjusting these limits.[FN1] The inflation-adjusted limits are:  The limits on contributions made by persons to candidates and national party committees (2 U.S.C. § 441a(a)(1)(A) and (B));The biennial aggregate contribution limits for individuals (2 U.S.C. § 441a(a)(3)); andThe limit on contributions made by certain political party committees (2 U.S.C. § 441a(h)).
 
 Please see the chart above for the contribution amount limits applicablefor 2011-2012. The inflationadjustments to these limits are madeonly in odd-numbered years. Theper-election limits on contributionsto candidates are in effect for thetwo-year election cycle beginningthe day after the general election andending on the date of the next generalelection (i.e., November 3, 2010– November 6, 2012). All other contributionlimits are in effect for thetwo-calendar-year period beginningon January 1 of the odd-numberedyear and ending on December 31 ofthe even-numbered year (i.e., January1, 2011 – December 31, 2012). Please note, however, that these limits do not apply to contributionsraised to retire debts from past elections. Contributions may not exceed the contribution limits in effect onthe date of the election for whichthose debts were incurred. 11 CFR110.1(b)(3)(iii). The Act also includes a rounding provision for all of the amounts thatare increased by the indexing for inflation.[FN2] Under this provision, if the inflation-adjusted amount is not a multiple of $100, then the amount is rounded to the nearest $100.   1 The applicable cost of living adjustment amount is 1.23152.2 2 This provision also affects the indexing of coordinated party expenditure limitsand presidential expenditure limits in 2U.S.C. §§ 441a(b) and 441a(d), as wellas the disclosure threshold for lobbyistbundled contributions in 2 U.S.C.§ 434(i)(3)(A).
 Author
          Elizabeth Kurland


Read next: 2011 Coordinated party expenditure limits
 Related: Explore campaign finance data »


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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