Federal Elections Commission Archives | American Democracy Minute

What are the Rules as to How Contributions to Inaugural Committee Funds Are Spent? There Aren’t Any.

January 15, 2025January 15, 2025

Our recent reporting explored the massive contributions to Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, reportedly reaching $170 Million dollars. What are the rules as to how that money is spent? The short answer is, there aren’t any.

Proposed Rule Change Could Make the Feckless Federal Election Commission Even Less Effective

September 17, 2023December 29, 2023

The feckless Federal Elections Commission may become even less effective. A proposed rules change would task the usually deadlocked FEC commissioners with authorizing all campaign finance investigations, likely bringing meaningful accountability to a standstill.

It’s the 13th Anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United Decision. What is Citizens United and Why Should You Care?

January 19, 2023January 19, 2023

January 21st is the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, one of the most consequential decisions about how elections are funded. What is it, and why should YOU care about it?

Revelations from Crypto CEO Sam Bankman-Fried Show How Reported – And Unreported -Money Funds Our Candidates

December 14, 2022April 24, 2024

Recent revelations from a disgraced cryptocurrency CEO gives us a glimpse of just how much campaign money flows into our election system – both what gets reported, and what’s called “dark money.” And both the major parties refuse to stop the torrent.

American Democracy Minute for July 14, 2022: Lawsuit Filed Against FEC for Dismissing Credible Complaint on Secret Payments to Trump Family & Insiders

July 13, 2022July 13, 2022

We reported back in May on the Federal Elections Commission deadlock over alleged secret payments benefitting Trump family members. The complaint alleges Trump family members and insiders financially benefited from sweetheart contracts paid out by a political action committee supporting President Trump’s re-election campaign. The Campaign Legal Center has now filed a lawsuit contesting that decision.