Mission Statement      Center Staff & Board       Funding

Mission Statement

The Campaign Legal Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which works in the areas of campaign finance and elections, political communication and government ethics. The Legal Center offers nonpartisan analyses of issues and represents the public interest in administrative, legislative and legal proceedings. The Legal Center also participates in generating and shaping our nation's policy debate about money in politics, disclosure, political advertising, and enforcement issues before the Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Litigation

Legal Center attorneys track and participate in a variety of cases around the country involving campaign finance law at the federal, state and local levels, including litigation both to ensure the proper implementation of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 and in defense of the law against legal challenges.

FEC Activity

The Legal Center also impacts policy decisions made by the FEC. The FEC Program consistenly files comments in rulemakings and advisory opinions as well as providing testimony at hearings before the Commission.

Policy and Ethics

The Legal Center's policy and ethics programs focus on campaign finance reform, strengthening federal ethics rules and enforcement, and other issues regarding voting and elections. In addition, the Legal Center works to ensure that federal officials comply with the rules and standards governing ethical conduct. The Legal Center assembled and leads the Congressional Ethics Coalition, an ideologically diverse group of the nation's leading government reform organizations working for meaningful reform of congressional ethics rules.

Media Policy

The Legal Center's Media Policy Program shapes political broadcasting policy by promoting awareness and enforcement of political broadcasting laws through FCC rulemaking proceedings, Congressional action, and public education. The Legal Center supports efforts to revitalize competition in our democratic process by ensuring that the public airwaves serve as a forum for open and vibrant political debate, especially among candidates, through stronger public interest obligations for digital broadcasters and efforts to make the airwaves accessible to more candidates - not just those with deep pockets or access to special interest dollars to pay for political advertising.

IRS

The Legal Center monitors and provides comments on the IRS's enforcement of restrictions on campaign intervention by Section 501(c) tax-exempt organizations and its operation of a public disclosure database for contributions and spending by Section 527 political organizations.