FEC: An Agency Tasked with Regulating First Amendment Activity

January 1, 2018  •  By IFS Staff  •    •  

The Federal Election Commission is the independent agency charged with enforcing federal campaign finance law and enacting campaign finance regulations. The FEC was created after the Nixon Administration’s Justice Department pursued criminal campaign finance charges against the President’s critics. In light of that effort, Congress correctly rejected the idea of letting a future president effectively control a government agency tasked…

Comments to FEC on Rulemaking 2014-02 (Independent Expenditure Reporting)

March 30, 2018   •  By David Keating   •  , ,

The Institute for Free Speech is pleased that the Federal Election Commission has issued this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding independent expenditures by ...

Feds prohibit candidates from commenting on Trump, despite constitutional questions

March 26, 2018   •  By Eric Wang   •  , ,

As the midterm congressional elections unfold, candidates are also running in 36 states for governor and competing for more than 6,000 state legislative seats. ...

On Trolls, Tweets, and Free Speech

January 26, 2018   •  By Brad Smith   •  , , ,

Lately, it seems to have become a sophomoric sport among some who regularly oppose our efforts to protect and expand free speech to try ...

A Teachable Moment for @alt_fec

January 4, 2018   •  By IFS Staff   •  , ,

The Twitter handle @alt_fec, which claims the mantle of “resistance” to the present administration, has tweeted to request our views on the First Amendment ...

Comments to FEC on Potential Rulemaking on Internet Communications Disclaimers

November 9, 2017   •  By Zac Morgan   •  , ,

For the third time in six years, the Federal Election Commission (“FEC” or “Commission”) has requested comments “on whether to begin a rulemaking to ...

Analysis of Klobuchar-Warner-McCain Internet Ads Legislation (S. 1989, 115th Cong.): So-Called “Honest Ads Act” Is Dishonest About Its Effects

November 1, 2017   •  By Eric Wang   •  , ,

PDF of Legislative Brief available here Analysis of Klobuchar-Warner-McCain Internet Ads Legislation (S. 1989,[1] 115th Cong.) So-Called “Honest Ads Act” Is Dishonest About Its ...

Federal Election Commission v. Jeremy Johnson and John Swallow

John Swallow
October 23, 2017   •  By IFS staff   •  , , ,

Can the FEC punish an individual for giving advice? That is the question at the core of Federal Election Commission v. Jeremy Johnson and John ...

Lee Goodman Offers Spirited Defense of First Amendment in Campaign Finance Law

October 22, 2017   •  By Joe Albanese   •  , ,

How big a problem is “dark money”? What about corporate spending in politics? Why doesn’t the FEC take a stronger stand against political activities ...

Brookings Institution Panel Says Democracy is in Crisis without (More) Regulation of Political Speech

September 28, 2017   •  By Joe Albanese   •  , , , ,

On Wednesday, the Brookings Institution hosted an event entitled “Democracy at risk: Solving critical problems threatening U.S. elections.” It was billed as a discussion ...

Democracy = National Security ≠ Need for More Regulation of Political Speech

September 26, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  , ,

Last Wednesday, Issue One, a group that advocates for more government regulation of political speech, held an event at the Center for Strategic and ...

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