May 10, 2004 -- 2004 Campaign Finance Guide & Media Guide

The Campaign Finance Guide

The Campaign Finance Guide is a comprehensive primer on federal campaign finance laws in the new regulatory world of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 ("McCain-Feingold").

The Legal Center has also developed an extended on-line version of the Finance Guide with additional resources, links, definitions, greater access to many related topics of interest, available at: www.campaignfinanceguide.org. This website will be continually updated as legal developments occur in federal campaign finance law.

Features of the Finance Guide include:

• Overview of the regulatory system detailing contribution and expenditure limits for individuals, political committees, parties, unions and corporations (p. 16-35).
• Sponsorship identification requirements for both the FEC and FCC (p. 45-46)
• Press exemption from media regulations on political issues (p. 44)
• Overview of the Federal Election Commission and how to file a complaint (p. 56-63)
• How the Presidential Public Funding system works (p. 48-55)
• Glossary of key terms and resources (p. 64-67; 70)

To download and print a .pdf version of the published Finance Guide , please click here.

The Campaign Media Guide

The Campaign Media Guide is a comprehensive primer on candidates' and citizens' rights - broadcasters' obligations - during the 2004 election season. The Media Guide includes the most recent Federal Communications Commission and Federal Election Commission regulations regarding the application of the new campaign finance laws (BCRA or "McCain-Feingold") as well as other new requirements and rules.

Features within the Media Guide include:

• Identification of candidates' rights to airwaves during election season
• Descriptions of broadcasters, cable operators, and Digital Broadcast System (DBS) operators political discourse obligations
• Case studies of successful and unsuccessful challenges of broadcaster actions
• Important contact information for filing informal and formal complaints
• Detailed analysis of broadcast station political files and available information for candidates and citizens
• Sponsorship identification requirements for both the FEC and FCC including sample language

To access the Media Guide on-line, please click here .

*** To request a printed version of the either of Guides, please e-mail your request to info@campaignlegalcenter.org .

Funding for both Guides was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Joyce Foundation.

The Campaign Legal Center hosted a briefing on Wednesday, June 16th in the Russell Senate Office Building on political advertising in the current election cycle. The event also launched the Legal Center 's Campaign Media Guide, a comprehensive primer on legal requirements surrounding political broadcasting - including the most recent Federal Communications Commission and Federal Election Commission regulations regarding the application of the new campaign finance laws (the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, or "McCain-Feingold") as well as other new requirements and rules such as the new "stand by your ad" requirements created by the Bipartisan Campaign

In addition, Senator John McCain, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Michael Powell, FCC Chairman, released a joint letter calling on broadcasters to boost their coverage of political campaigns during the 2004 cycle.

Event:

Speakers included:

Senator John McCain, Chair, Senate Commerce Committee;
FCC Chairman Michael Powell;
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein;
FEC Commissioner Scott Thomas; and
FEC Commissioner Michael Toner
Trevor Potter , president of the Legal Center , moderated.
The speakers took questions (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) jointly at the conclusion of the event.

(click on each name above to watch their comments as well as the Question and Answer with the press in Media Player )

Click here to view Senator John McCain's and FCC Chairman Michael Powell's letter that was sent to major broadcasters calling for increased election news coverage and public affairs programming.

Click here to view all press coverage of the event.