Federal Election Administration Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1388
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2003-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Advice and consent of the Senate
Authorization
Campaign funds
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
Confidential communications
Congress
Congressional elections
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Directories
Economics and Public Finance
Election administration
Election candidates
Election fraud
Evidence (Law)
Executive reorganization
Federal Election Commission
Federal budgets
Federal employees
Federal officials
Fines (Penalties)
Freedom of association
Freedom of speech
Government attorneys
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Grievance procedures
Independent regulatory commissions
Injunctions
Inspectors general
Judicial review
Law
Legislation
Liability (Law)
Limitation of actions
Presidential appointments
Presidential elections
Public records
Right of privacy
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Subpoena
Transfer of employees

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: 
Federal Election Administration Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to create a new independent establishment, the Federal Election Administration (FEA), replacing the Federal Election Commission (FEC), with enhanced authority to enforce Federal campaign finance laws, while leaving reporting and disclosure provisions largely the same. Gives the FEA exclusive jurisdiction with respect to the civil enforcement of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act.
 
Requires under this new system for the Administration to be composed of three members, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one of whom shall serve as the Chair of the Administration, while the two other members are prohibited from being affiliated with the same political party. Requires the Chair to be appointed for a term of ten years, while the two other members shall be appointed for a term of six years, with one of the initial members appointed for a term of three years. Imposes on members a general one-term limitation. Bars present and former FEC members and others from the regulated community as well as individuals employed in certain executive branch positions from serving as FEA members.
 
Requires enforcement proceedings for violations of campaign finance laws to be conducted before administrative law judges. Allows any final determination made by an administrative law judge to be appealed to the FEA for final agency action, subject to judicial review. Includes under the enhanced authority of the FEA to enforce Federal campaign laws the authority to impose civil penalties, issue cease-and-desist orders, and to report apparent violations to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Allows the FEA to conduct audits and field examinations of campaign committees. 
 
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct: (1) an examination of the enforcement of Federal campaign finance laws by the Attorney General for a report to the Attorney General and Congress; and (2) an ongoing study on the level of funding that constitutes an adequate level of resources for the FEA to competently execute its responsibilities, for reports to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and Congress. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/11/2003 S9246-9247)
action_date: 2003-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate