Federal Election Act
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on House Administration.
Federal Election Act - Establishes the Federal Elections Commission, to be composed of six members. Sets forth administrative composition and functions of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall have the power (1) to require any person to submit in writing such reports and answers to questions as the Commission may prescribe; (2) to administer oaths and issue subpoenas; and (3) to initiate, prosecute, defend, or appeal any court action in the name of the Commission for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act. Makes technical and conforming changes in the Federal Election Campaign Act. Revises the Federal Election Campaign Act by providing that every candidate for Federal office shall designate one political committee as his campaign committee. Provides that any person making a contribution of currency or other funds to any candidate for Federal office shall make such contribution directly to the campaign committee designated by such candidate under this Act. Prohibits the expenditure of funds for any candidate for Federal office by any person other than the candidate's designated campaign committee. Provides that no person shall make contributions to any candidate for Federal office in any primary election or in any general election which, in the aggregate, exceed: (1) $7,500, in the case of a primary election or general election for the office of President; or (2) $2,500, in the case of a primary election, primary runoff election, or general election for the office of Senator, Representative, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner. Sets forth penalties for violation of this Act. Prohibits any person from giving any currency or other funds to any other person with the knowledge that such funds are to be used for the making of a contribution by such other person to any candidate for Federal office.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on March 14, 1974. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on March 14, 1974: Referred to House Committee on House Administration.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
PHILIP RUPPE (R-MI) introduced it on March 14, 1974. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on March 14, 1974, 19173 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 19173 days ago, on March 14, 1974.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers