jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-01-24 00:00:00

Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to permit candidates for election to federal office to: (1) designate an individual for each of a candiate's authorized campaign committees who will be authorized to disburse funds of the committee in the event of the candidate's death, and (2) designate another individual to carry out the responsibilities of the designated individual in the event of the death or incapacity of the designated individual or the designated individual's unwillingness to carry out the responsibilities. Prescribes procedures for filing and revoking such a designation. Permits the filing of a designation to contain the candidate's instructions regarding the disbursement of funds.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-01-25 00:00:00

Presidential Funding Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to revise the system of public financing for presidential primary and general elections. Increases the amount of matching funds for presidential primaries from a 1:1 match to a 4:1 match for contributions of $200 or less from individuals. Limits the total amount of payments to primary candidates to $100 million. Requires presidential primary candidates who opt to participate in the public financing system to certify to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that they have raised $25,000 (currently, $5,000) in each of 20 states, with individual contributions limited to $200. Requires such candidates to commit to accept public financing in both the primary and general elections. Limits contributions to presidential primary candidates who participate in the public financing system to $1,000 from individual contributors (currently, $2,400). Prohibits such candidates from accepting contributions or bundled contributions (i.e., combining small contributions into one large contribution) from lobbyists or political action committees (PACs). Eliminates expenditure limitations for presidential primary and general elections. Changes the period for payment of matching funds to presidential primary candidates from January 1 of the election year to six months prior to the date of the earliest state primary election. Revises general election payment provisions to allow a grant of $50 million to candidates and an additional $150 million in matching funds based upon a 4:1 match of contributions raised after June 1 of the general election year from individual donors giving up to $200 each. Increases to $50 million the limit on coordinated spending by a national party and its presidential candidate. Eliminates public financing for national party conventions. Allows individual contributions up to $25,000 in each four-year presidential election cycle to pay for national party convention costs. Prohibits the use of unregulated funds (soft money) to pay for national party convention costs. Increases from $3 to $10 ($6 to $20 for joint returns) the tax check-off for contributions to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations to ensure that approved tax preparation software does not automatically accept or decline a check-off of contributions for the public financing system. Directs the FEC to issue regulations on best efforts for identifying persons making contributions to political committees. Revises reporting requirements for the disclosure of bundled contributions by lobbyists and to presidential campaigns.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Congress
Date: 2011-01-25 00:00:00

Member Address Privacy and Protection Act - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require the appropriate state or local official to provide adequate technological security measures to prevent the addresses of the residences of Members of Congress from appearing on the computerized statewide voter registration lists required to be maintained by states under such Act. Authorizes a Member seeking election for public office to meet any state law requirement to provide the appropriate election official with the Member's home address by filing an affidavit with the chief election official certifying that the Member is a state resident.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-02-11 00:00:00

Election Support Consolidation and Efficiency Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to terminate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the EAC Standards Board, and the EAC Board of Advisors 61 days after enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to perform EAC functions with respect to certain existing contracts and agreements during the transition period for winding up EAC affairs. Transfers specified election administration functions of the EAC to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). (Sec. 3) Replaces the Standards Board and the Board of Advisors with a Guidelines Review Board to review voluntary voting system guidelines proposed by the Technical Guidelines Development Committee. (Sec. 4) Sets forth special requirements relating to the transfer of certain EAC authorities to the FEC with respect to development of such guidelines. Transfers to the FEC the EAC Office of Voting System Testing and Certification. (Sec. 7) Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) study the procedures used to adopt and modify the voluntary voting system guidelines applicable to the administration of elections for federal office, and (2) develop recommendations on methods to improve such procedures. Requires the FEC to: (1) study the procedures for the testing, certification, decertification, and recertification of voting system hardware and software used in federal elections, and (2) develop a recommendation on the entity best suited to oversee and carry out such procedures. Requires the recommendations in both studies to take into account the needs of persons affected by such guidelines, including state and local election officials, voters with disabilities, absent military and overseas voters, and the manufacturers of voting systems.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-03-10 00:00:00

No Taxpayer Money for Corporate Campaigns Act of 2011 - Prohibits: (1) the use of federal funds received by any entity, other than a natural person, to advocate the election or defeat of a political candidate or to engage in any lobbying activity; (2) use such funds for voter registration or get-out-the-vote activities; or (3) donate such funds to any entity that advocates for the election or defeat of a political candidate or engages in lobbying activities. Exempts from this ban the use of funds by an entity for an activity specifically authorized by federal law, rule, or regulation.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Congress
Date: 2011-04-06 00:00:00

Fair Elections Now Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) with respect to: (1) candidate benefits of fair elections financing of House of Representatives election campaigns; (2) allocations to candidates from the Fair Elections Fund established by this Act; (3) 500% matching payments to candidates for certain small dollar contributions; (4) Fund allocation eligibility requirements; (5) certification of a federal election candidate as a participating candidate; (6) contribution, expenditure, and fundraising requirements; (7) a public debate requirement; (8) remission to the Fair Elections Fund of unspent funds after an election; (9) establishment of the Fair Elections Fund and of a Fair Elections Oversight Board; (10) civil penalties for violation of contribution and expenditure requirements; and (11) transfer of a portion of collected civil money penalties into the Fair Elections Fund. Prohibits: (1) use of contributions by a participating candidate for any purposes other than an election campaign, and (2) establishment of joint fundraising committees with any political committee other than a candidate's authorized committee. Prescribes a limitation on coordinated expenditures by political party committees with participating candidates. Amends FECA to empower the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to petition the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari to appeal a civil action. Requires all designations, statements, and reports required to be filed under FECA to be filed: (1) directly with the FEC, and (2) in electronic form accessible by computers. Reduces from 48 hours to 24 hours after their receipt the deadline for the FEC to make designations, statements, reports, or notifications available to the public in the FEC office and on the Internet.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2011-05-02 00:00:00

License Plate Political Slush Fund Prevention Act of 2011 - Requires the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to withhold 15% of a state's apportionment of certain federal-aid highway funds if the state allows proceeds from license plate sales to go to partisan political organizations. Requires funds withheld from a state to be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit (or, if there is no federal budget deficit, to reduce the federal debt).
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-05-13 00:00:00

Fairness in Federal Contracting Act of 2011 - Prohibits an executive agency from requiring an entity that is bidding on a federal contract or otherwise participating in the acquisition of property or services from the federal government to disclose information on any payments to a candidate for federal office or to a political committee or on any disbursements for such purposes, as a condition for submitting such contract bid or for participating in the acquisition of property or services.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2011-05-13 00:00:00

State Ethics Law Protection Act of 2011 - Considers a state transportation department not to have violated federal contract requirements for the construction of a federal-aid highway project solely because the state in which the department is located, or a local government within that state, has in effect a law or order that limits the amount of money an individual or entity doing business with a state or local agency with respect to such a project may contribute to a political party, campaign, or elected official (pay to play).
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-05-23 00:00:00

EAC Improvements Act of 2011 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to: (1) reauthorize the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and (2) require states to participate in post-general election surveys. Requires the EAC to: (1) conduct and publish a survey of each polling place used in an election to determine the percentage of them in compliance with standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act; (2) establish an escrow account for making payments to accredited laboratories for the costs of the testing carried out in connection with the certification, decertification, and recertification of voting system hardware and software; (3) establish a schedule of fees for such testing; and (4) maintain and publish an updated list of all accredited laboratories. Directs the EAC to analyze various factors that affect the costs to state and local governments of administering elections for federal office. Directs the Comptroller General to study the administrative operations of the EAC, including various methods for increasing their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-05-26 00:00:00

Restoring Confidence Through Smarter Campaigns Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to limit expenditures by candidates for the House of Representatives to $500,000 during the election cycle ($250,000 for a primary election and $250,000 for a general election). Sets at $250,000 the maximum amount of expenditures which may be made for a runoff election ($125,000 for a primary runoff election and $125,000 for a general runoff election). Excludes from such limits expenditures for legal services. Provides for indexing such amounts for inflation.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-06-02 00:00:00

Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2011 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state from imposing additional conditions or requirements on the eligibility of an individual to cast a vote in federal elections by mail, except to the extent that it imposes a deadline for requesting the ballot and returning it to the appropriate state or local election official.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-06-23 00:00:00

Lobbyist Disclosure Enhancement Act  - Requires the Attorney General to establish the Lobbying Disclosure Act Enforcement Task Force.  Grants such Task Force primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting each case referred to the Attorney General under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.  Requires such Task Force to: (1) collect and disseminate information on the enforcement of such Act; (2) audit at least annually the extent of compliance with such Act; and (3) establish, publicize, and operate a toll-free telephone hotline for members of the public to report noncompliance with lobbyist disclosure requirements. Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to: (1) require notifications of noncompliance of lobbyist diclosure requirements to the Attorney General (instead of  the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia); (2) amend the definition of "lobbyist" under such Act to eliminate the exemption from such Act of certain lobbyists who work for a client on a part-time basis; (3) require lobbyists to register with the Senate and House of Representatives within 5 days after a lobbying contact (currently, 45 days); and (4) expand disclosure requirements relating to contacts with executive and legislative branch officials and political contributions.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-07-14 00:00:00

Voter Protection Hotline Act of 2011 - Directs the Attorney General (AG) to establish and operate a toll-free telephone service, using a telephone number accessible throughout the United States using easily identifiable numerals, through which individuals may: (1) obtain information on voting in elections for federal office, including how to register to vote, the hours of operation of polling places, and how to obtain absentee ballots; and (2) report problems encountered in registering to vote or voting, including incidences of voter intimidation or suppression. Requires the AG to: (1) appoint individuals to a Voter Hotline Task Force, giving special consideration to individuals representing civil rights organizations, for ongoing analysis and assessment of the telephone service's operation; and (2) submit a report to Congress each odd-numbered year concerning voter intimidation or suppression reports made to the hotline and assessing the availability of the service to all U.S. households with telephone service.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-08-01 00:00:00

Competitive Elections Act of 2011 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit an authorized committee of a candidate for election to the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives from making any expenditure of funds in support of the candidate's election campaign that were not deposited in the committee's account during the election cycle for the office involved. Makes an exception to this prohibition for candidates facing certain opponents who make expenditures from personal funds exceeding specified dollar amounts.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Economics and public finance
Date: 2011-09-07 00:00:00

Deficit Committee Transparency Act - Amends the Budget Control Act of 2011 to require any member of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, and any individual on the committee staff or the personal staff of a committee member, to disclose any meeting, within 48 hours after it takes place, with any other individual relating to matters before the committee if the individual: (1) is a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal; (2) has any direct personal or pecuniary interest in any legislative measure pending before the House of Representatives or the Senate or reported by a committee of either chamber; or (3) is in the employ of or represents any party or organization for the purpose of influencing, directly or indirectly, the passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative proposal. Requires any member of the Joint Committee who is a candidate with an authorized committee or who is a candidate or an individual holding federal office affiliated with a leadership political action committee (PAC) to disclose, within 48 hours of receipt,  any contribution such committee or leadership PAC receives from an individual, or any entity, which: (1) is a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal; (2)  the authorized committee or leadership PAC, using its best efforts, determines is in the employ of or represents any party or organization for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative proposal; or (3) makes a single contribution in excess of $500. Requires the Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee, before its first meeting,  to establish a public website containing: (1)  such disclosures of lobbying activities and meetings, and of campaign or Member-designated leadership PAC contributions; (2)  the final report on specified activities and contributions; and (3) such other information the Joint Committee or its staff deems necessary and beneficial to inform the public of  its proceedings, deliberations, and deadlines. Requires the Joint Committee's proposed report and legislative language to be made publicly available on its website at least 72 hours before the vote on such measures. Requires any hearing of the Joint Committee open to the public to be open to coverage by audio and visual means, including in a format that is streaming on the Internet via the Joint Committee's website.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-11-02 00:00:00

Voter Access Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state or local election official from requiring an individual to: (1) present a photo identification (or a copy if voting by mail) as a condition for receiving or casting a ballot in any election for federal office, or (2) cast a provisional ballot solely on the grounds that the individual does not present a photo identification at the polling place. Prohibits a state or local election election official from requiring an individual to provide a photo identification (or a copy if registering by mail) as a condition of registering to vote in an election for federal office.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-11-17 00:00:00

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate as of December 31, 2010, taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns. Abolishes the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer all amounts remaining in the Fund after enactment of this Act to the general fund of the Treasury to reduce the deficit. Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to terminate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the EAC Standards Board, and the EAC Board of Advisors 61 days after enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to perform EAC functions with respect to certain existing contracts and agreements during the transition period for winding up EAC affairs. Transfers specified election administration functions of the EAC to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Replaces the Standards Board and the Board of Advisors with a Guidelines Review Board to review voluntary voting system guidelines proposed by the Technical Guidelines Development Committee. Sets forth special requirements relating to the transfer of certain EAC authorities to the FEC with respect to development of such guidelines. Transfers to the FEC the EAC Office of Voting System Testing and Certification. Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) study the procedures used to adopt and modify the voluntary voting system guidelines applicable to the administration of elections for federal office, and (2) develop recommendations on methods to improve such procedures. Requires the FEC to: (1) study the procedures for the testing, certification, decertification, and recertification of voting system hardware and software used in federal elections; and (2) develop a recommendation on the entity best suited to oversee and carry out such procedures. Requires the recommendations in both studies to take into account the needs of persons affected by such guidelines, including state and local election officials, voters with disabilities, absent military and overseas voters, and the manufacturers of voting systems.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2011-11-18 00:00:00

Amends the federal criminal code to replace the current two-year ban on lobbying contacts by former Senators and one-year ban on lobbying contacts by former Members of the House of Representatives with any Member, officer, or employee of either chamber with an outright ban at any time on such contacts, subject to fines and/or imprisonment. Specifies a one-year ban on lobbying contacts by former elected officers of the House with any House Member, officer, or employee.
Topic: Government Operations — Political Campaigns
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2011-12-07 00:00:00

Stand By Every Ad Act of 2011 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require the identification of funding and authorizing sources in communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate (as under current law) or which consist of the functional equivalent of express advocacy. Prescribes special rules for express advocacy radio and television communications which are not authorized by a candidate, an authorized political committee of a candidate, or its agents. Requires individual disclosure statements about the head of the entity paying for the communication and about any other person that disbursed funds to the entity to finance the communication. Requires disclosure of such identifying information within audio and video communications made through the Internet or e-mail. Applies such disclosure requirements to prerecorded telephone calls.