Foreign Money and U.S. Campaign Finance Policy (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised March 25, 2019 |
| Report Number |
IF10697 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
R. Sam Garrett |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Federal campaign finance law and regulation prohibits
foreign money in U.S. elections. The public record reveals
little evidence that foreign money has intruded into U.S.
campaigns systematically or decisively. The possibility of
prohibited funds surreptitiously affecting campaigns in the
United States nonetheless remains a policy concern. Some
policymakers argue that existing disclosure requirements
and the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling increase
the risk for untraceable foreign funds to affect U.S.
campaigns. Others counter that existing prohibitions clearly
bar foreign funds and that hypothetical concerns are
exaggerated, and that proposed restrictions on corporate
spending could target particular companies or types of
speech, or both. For additional detail, see CRS Report
R41542, The State of Campaign Finance Policy: Recent
Developments and Issues for Congress, by R. Sam Garrett;
CRS Report R43719, Campaign Finance: Constitutionality
of Limits on Contributions and Expenditures, by L. Paige
Whitaker; and CRS Legal Sidebar WSLG909, Campaign
Finance Law: What is a “Coordinated Communication”
versus an “Independent Expenditure”?, by L. Paige
Whitaker.
