CAMPAIGN MONEY
Campaign money — who can give, how much, and what is reported
Updated
Federal campaign finance law, mainly the Federal Election Campaign Act and its amendments, sets who may give money to candidates for Congress and President, how much, and what must be reported. Congress writes it and the Federal Election Commission enforces it. The Supreme Court has drawn its outer lines: Congress may cap what people give to a candidate and require disclosure, but it may not cap what candidates or independent groups spend.
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Gifts to candidates are capped
For the 2025–2026 elections a person may give a candidate up to $3,500 per election (a primary and a general election count separately), a political action committee up to $5,000 a year and a national party committee up to $44,300 a year. The cap on gifts to candidates rises with inflation every two years.
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Some givers are barred
Campaigns may not take money from the treasuries of corporations and unions, from federal government contractors, or given in someone else’s name. Foreign nationals may not give or spend money in any federal, state or local election.
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The money is reported
Campaigns, parties and political action committees report to the FEC what they raise and spend and who gave it, and the reports are public. The Supreme Court upheld these disclosure rules in 1976 and again in 2010: they help voters judge candidates and deter corruption.
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Spending cannot be capped
In Buckley v. Valeo (1976) the Court upheld caps on contributions but struck down caps on spending, including a candidate’s own money. In Citizens United v. FEC (2010) it held that corporations and unions may spend without limit on ads for or against candidates, as long as they act independently of them. Groups that only spend that way, called super PACs, may take contributions of any size.
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Who enforces it
The FEC has six commissioners, no more than three from one party. It needs four votes to investigate, go to court, write rules, answer a request for an advisory opinion or report a violation to law enforcement, so a 3–3 tie means no action. It alone enforces the law in civil cases.