Elections & terms
campaign finance disclosure
The requirement that committees report who gave, how much, and what was spent. The foundation of every public accounting of money in politics.
In full
Federal committees file regular reports listing receipts and disbursements, itemizing contributors above a threshold with name, address, employer, and occupation. The FEC publishes the filings. Disclosure has survived constitutional challenge far better than spending limits, on the theory that voters are entitled to know who is funding the speech aimed at them.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.