The Federal Election Commission enforces federal campaign finance laws, including monitoring donation prohibitions, and limits and oversees public funding for presidential campaigns.
How does public campaign financing work?
The public funding program was designed to use tax dollars to: Match the first $250 of each contribution from individuals that an eligible presidential candidate receives during the primary campaign; and. Fund the major party nominees’ general election campaigns (and assist eligible minor party nominees).
What power does the FEC have?
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, Senate, Presidency and the Vice Presidency.
What is the maximum amount of money that a single individual can contribute to one political campaign?
Contribution limits for 2021-2022 federal elections
| Recipient | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate committee | ||
| Donor | Individual | $2,900* per election |
| Candidate committee | $2,000 per election | |
| PAC: multicandidate | $5,000 per election |
Has anyone ever won an election by 1 vote?
In 1800 – Thomas Jefferson was elected President by one vote in the House of Representatives after a tie in the Electoral College. In 1824 – Andrew Jackson won the presidential popular vote but lost by one vote in the House of Representatives to John Quincy Adams after an Electoral College dead-lock.
How much public finance did Obama take in the 2008 general election?
Fundraising for the 2008 United States presidential election
| Candidate (party) | Amount raised | Average spent per vote |
|---|---|---|
| Barack Obama (D) | $778,642,962 | $10.94 |
| John McCain (R) | $383,913,834 | $5.97 |
| Ralph Nader (I) | $4,496,180 | $5.67 |
| Bob Barr (L) | $1,383,681 | $2.57 |
