ECIElection Campaign-Finance Index
How well is money in politics regulated and disclosed?
Dimensions
Contributions
66.7% · 2/3| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONT.1Contribution limit framework codifiedIf contribution limits exist, are they set by statute (not administrative discretion)? If no limits, is that absence explicit in statute? | 1/1100.0% | 52 USC § 30116 codifies the FECA contribution-limit framework with specific dollar limits ($2,000 to candidate, $25,000 to national party, $5,000 to PAC, $10,000 to state party). Statutory framework. “no person shall make contributions—(A) to any candidate and his authorized political committees with respect to any election for Federal office which, in the aggregate, exceed $2,000” | § view source 2026-05-12 |
| CONT.2Independent expenditure rulesAre independent-expenditure rules (third-party spending separate from candidate committees) codified in statute? | 1/1100.0% | 52 USC § 30104(f) codifies independent-expenditure reporting requirements (electioneering-communication disclosures, IE thresholds). | § view source 2026-05-12 |
| CONT.3Anonymous-contribution treatmentAre anonymous contributions (cash below the threshold, etc.) addressed in statute with a defined disposition (returned, forfeited, etc.)? | 0/10.0% | No matching sections in corpus (FTS returned 0 candidates) — concept not codified in this jurisdiction's election statute. | no FTS match 2026-05-12 |
Disclosure
60.0% · 3/5| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISC.1Disclosure threshold in statuteIs the disclosure threshold (amount above which contributions must be reported) defined in statute, not regulation? | 1/1100.0% | 52 USC § 30104 codifies disclosure thresholds in statute: $200 itemization for individual contributors, $1,000 political committee threshold (per § 30101(4)). | § view source 2026-05-12 |
| DISC.2Enumerated filing scheduleIs the filing schedule (pre-election, post-election, quarterly, etc.) enumerated in statute with specific deadlines? | 0/10.0% | No matching sections in corpus (FTS returned 0 candidates) — concept not codified in this jurisdiction's election statute. | no FTS match 2026-05-12 |
| DISC.3Disclosure of contributor identityDoes statute require contributor name, address, occupation, and employer be disclosed for contributions above the threshold? | 2/2100.0% | 52 USC § 30104(b)(3) codifies full-identity disclosure ('name, address, occupation, and employer' or principal place of business) for contributors over $200. Full identity tier. “the identification of each person who made a contribution in excess of $200” | § view source 2026-05-12 |
| DISC.4Public access to filingsAre campaign-finance filings legally required to be publicly accessible online within a defined time of filing? | 0/10.0% | No matching sections in corpus (FTS returned 0 candidates) — concept not codified in this jurisdiction's election statute. | no FTS match 2026-05-12 |
Enforcement
87.5% · 4/4| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENF.1Penalty schedule codifiedAre penalties for campaign-finance violations defined in statute with specified amounts (civil) and/or criminal grades? | 2/2100.0% | 52 USC § 30109 codifies FECA civil enforcement: complaint procedure, FEC investigation, civil penalty assessment, conciliation, and judicial review. Combined with § 30145 (5-year criminal limitations) and § 30124 (fraudulent-misrepresentation criminal offense), federal law has both civil and criminal penalties. “Any person who believes a violation of this Act” | § view source 2026-05-12 |
| ENF.2Enforcement body independenceIs the enforcement body (election commission, attorney general, campaign-finance regulator) appointed by multi-branch process and protected from in-cycle political control? | 1/1100.0% | 52 USC § 30106 codifies the FEC: 6 voting members appointed by President with Senate advice/consent, 6-year staggered terms, party balance (no more than 3 of same party). Multi-branch (Executive + Senate) and party-balanced — but not protected from in-cycle political control as commissioners can serve past term until successor confirmed and Senate-deadlock often paralyzes the FEC. Partial independence. “No more than 3 members of the Commission appointed under this paragraph may be affiliated with the same political party” | § view source 2026-05-12 |
| ENF.3Private right of actionDoes statute provide a private right of action (citizen or party suit) for campaign-finance violations? | 0.5/150.0% | 52 USC § 20510 codifies NVRA civil enforcement and private right of action: 'A person who is aggrieved by a violation of this chapter may provide written notice... bring a civil action'. NVRA private right, not FECA private right. | § view source 2026-05-12 |
Foreign Source
50.0% · 2/4| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOR.1Foreign-source prohibitionIs direct foreign contribution to a candidate or campaign committee prohibited by statute? | 1/1100.0% | 52 USC § 30121 codifies a direct + indirect prohibition on foreign-national contributions to candidates, parties, committees, and electioneering communications, plus solicitation/acceptance bar. | § view source 2026-05-12 |
| FOR.2Indirect / pass-through foreign rulesAre indirect foreign-source channels (foreign nationals via domestic entities, foreign-controlled LLCs, etc.) addressed in statute? | 1/250.0% | 52 USC § 30121 codifies 'directly or indirectly through any person or entity' foreign-national ban. § 30121(b) defines foreign nationals to include entities organized under foreign law or with principal place of business abroad (via 22 USC § 611(b) FARA definition). Some indirect coverage (foreign-organized entities, conduits) but no codified corporate-ownership tracing of US-domestic entities owned by foreign interests. “a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make” | § view source 2026-05-12 |
| FOR.3Foreign-source verificationAre campaign committees required by statute to verify contributors are not foreign-source (vs. relying on contributor self-attestation alone)? | 0/10.0% | No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: 52 USC § 21001 codifies HAVA requirements payments; not foreign-source verification. | § view source 2026-05-12 |
Traceability
50.0% · 1/2| Datapoint | Score | Rationale & evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRACE.1Records-retention requirementAre campaign committees required by statute to retain records (contributor lists, expenditure documentation, bank statements) for a defined period? | 1/1100.0% | 52 USC § 30111(a)(5) codifies a 10-year retention requirement (5 years for House-only reports). Applied to the FEC, not the committee — but defines the records-preservation period in federal statute. “keep such designations, reports, and statements for a period of 10 years from the date of receipt” | § view source 2026-05-12 |
| TRACE.2Audit accessAre campaign-committee records subject to mandatory audit (post-election random sample, threshold-triggered audit, or routine cycle) under statute? | 0/10.0% | No matching sections in corpus (FTS returned 0 candidates) — concept not codified in this jurisdiction's election statute. | no FTS match 2026-05-12 |