[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1219 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1219

 To reform the financing of Federal elections, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            September 7 (legislative day, September 5), 1995

Mr. McCain (for himself, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Pell, and Mr. 
  Wellstone) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
         referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To reform the financing of Federal elections, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Senate Campaign Finance Reform Act 
of 1995''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF CAMPAIGN ACT; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Amendment of FECA.--When used in this Act, the term ``FECA'' 
means the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.).
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Amendment of Campaign Act; table of contents.
         TITLE I--SENATE ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS AND BENEFITS

Sec. 101. Senate election spending limits and benefits.
Sec. 102. Free broadcast time.
Sec. 103. Broadcast rates and preemption.
Sec. 104. Reduced postage rates.
Sec. 105. Contribution limit for eligible Senate candidates.
           TITLE II--REDUCTION OF SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE

  Subtitle A--Elimination of Political Action Committees From Federal 
                          Election Activities

Sec. 201. Ban on activities of political action committees in Federal 
                            elections.
   Subtitle B--Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties

     Subtitle C--Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties

Sec. 221. Soft money of persons other than political parties.
                       Subtitle D--Contributions

Sec. 231. Contributions through intermediaries and conduits.
               Subtitle E--Additional Contribution Limits

Sec. 241. Allowable contributions for complying candidates.
                  Subtitle F--Independent Expenditures

Sec. 251. Clarification of definitions relating to independent 
                            expenditures.
                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Restrictions on use of campaign funds for personal purposes.
Sec. 302. Campaign advertising amendments.
Sec. 303. Filing procedures.
Sec. 304. Audits.
Sec. 305. Limit on congressional use of the franking privilege.
Sec. 306. Authority to seek injunction.
Sec. 307. Severability.
Sec. 308. Expedited review of constitutional issues.
Sec. 309. Reporting Requirements.
Sec. 310. Effective date.
Sec. 311. Regulations.

         TITLE I--SENATE ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS AND BENEFITS

SEC. 101. SENATE ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS AND BENEFITS.

    (a) In General.--FECA is amended by adding at the end the following 
new title:

 ``TITLE V--SPENDING LIMITS AND BENEFITS FOR SENATE ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

``SEC. 501. CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE BENEFITS.

    ``(a) In General.--For purposes of this title, a candidate is an 
eligible Senate candidate if the candidate--
            ``(1) meets the primary and general election filing 
        requirements of subsections (c) and (d);
            ``(2) meets the primary and runoff election expenditure 
        limits of subsection (b);
            ``(3) meets the threshold contribution requirements of 
        subsection (e); and
            ``(4) does not exceed the limitation on expenditures from 
        personal funds under section 502(a).
    ``(b) Primary and Runoff Expenditure Limits.--
            ``(1) In general.--The requirements of this subsection are 
        met if--
                    ``(A) the candidate or the candidate's authorized 
                committees did not make expenditures for the primary 
                election in excess of the lesser of--
                            ``(i) 67 percent of the general election 
                        expenditure limit under section 502(b); or
                            ``(ii) $2,750,000; and
                    ``(B) the candidate and the candidate's authorized 
                committees did not make expenditures for any runoff 
                election in excess of 20 percent of the general 
                election expenditure limit under section 502(b).
            ``(2) Indexing.--The $2,750,000 amount under paragraph 
        (1)(A)(ii) shall be increased as of the beginning of each 
        calendar year based on the increase in the price index 
        determined under section 315(c), except that the base period 
        shall be calendar year 1995.
    ``(c) Primary Filing Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The requirements of this subsection are 
        met if the candidate files with the Secretary of the Senate a 
        certification that--
                    ``(A) the candidate and the candidate's authorized 
                committees--
                            ``(i) will meet the primary and runoff 
                        election expenditure limits of subsection (b); 
                        and
                            ``(ii) will only accept contributions for 
                        the primary and runoff elections which do not 
                        exceed such limits;
                    ``(B) the candidate and the candidate's authorized 
                committees will meet the limitation on expenditures 
                from personal funds under section 502(a); and
                    ``(C) the candidate and the candidate's authorized 
                committees will meet the general election expenditure 
                limit under section 502(b).
            ``(2) Deadline for filing certification.--The certification 
        under paragraph (1) shall be filed not later than the date the 
        candidate files as a candidate for the primary election.
    ``(d) General Election Filing Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The requirements of this subsection are 
        met if the candidate files a certification with the Secretary 
        of the Senate under penalty of perjury that--
                    ``(A) the candidate and the candidate's authorized 
                committees--
                            ``(i) met the primary and runoff election 
                        expenditure limits under subsection (b); and
                            ``(ii) did not accept contributions for the 
                        primary or runoff election in excess of the 
                        primary or runoff expenditure limit under 
                        subsection (b), whichever is applicable, 
                        reduced by any amounts transferred to this 
                        election cycle from a preceding election cycle;
                    ``(B) at least one other candidate has qualified 
                for the same general election ballot under the law of 
                the State involved;
                    ``(C) the candidate and the authorized committees 
                of the candidate--
                            ``(i) except as otherwise provided by this 
                        title, will not make expenditures that exceed 
                        the general election expenditure limit under 
                        section 502(b);
                            ``(ii) will not accept any contributions in 
                        violation of section 315; and
                            ``(iii) except as otherwise provided by 
                        this title, will not accept any contribution 
                        for the general election involved to the extent 
                        that such contribution would cause the 
                        aggregate amount of contributions to exceed the 
                        sum of the amount of the general election 
                        expenditure limit under section 502(b), reduced 
                        by any amounts transferred to this election 
                        cycle from a previous election cycle and not 
                        taken into account under subparagraph (A)(ii); 
                        and
                    ``(D) the candidate intends to make use of the 
                benefits provided under section 503.
            ``(2) Deadline for filing certification.--The certification 
        under paragraph (1) shall be filed not later than 7 days after 
        the earlier of--
                    ``(A) the date the candidate qualifies for the 
                general election ballot under State law; or
                    ``(B) if under State law, a primary or runoff 
                election to qualify for the general election ballot 
                occurs after September 1, the date the candidate wins 
                the primary or runoff election.
    ``(e) Threshold Contribution Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The requirements of this subsection are 
        met if the candidate and the candidate's authorized committees 
        have received allowable contributions during the applicable 
        period in an amount at least equal to the lesser of--
                    ``(A) 10 percent of the general election 
                expenditure limit under section 502(b); or
                    ``(B) $250,000.
            ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act--
                    ``(A) the term `allowable contributions' means 
                contributions that are made as gifts of money by an 
                individual pursuant to a written instrument identifying 
                such individual as the contributor, except that such 
                term shall not include contributions from individuals 
                residing outside the candidate's State to the extent 
                such contributions exceed 40 percent of the aggregate 
                allowable contributions (without regard to this 
                subparagraph) received by the candidate during the 
                applicable period; and
                    ``(B) the term `applicable period' means--
                            ``(i) the period beginning on January 1 of 
                        the calendar year preceding the calendar year 
                        of the general election involved and ending on 
                        the date on which the certification under 
                        subsection (c)(2) is filed by the candidate; or
                            ``(ii) in the case of a special election 
                        for the office of United States Senator, the 
                        period beginning on the date the vacancy in 
                        such office occurs and ending on the date of 
                        the general election.

``SEC. 502. LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES.

    ``(a) Limitation on Use of Personal Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--The aggregate amount of expenditures 
        that may be made during an election cycle by an eligible Senate 
        candidate or such candidate's authorized committees from the 
        sources described in paragraph (2) shall not exceed the lesser 
        of--
                    ``(A) 10 percent of the general election 
                expenditure limit under subsection (b); or
                    ``(B) $250,000.
            ``(2) Sources.--A source is described in this subsection if 
        it is--
                    ``(A) personal funds of the candidate and members 
                of the candidate's immediate family; or
                    ``(B) personal loans incurred by the candidate and 
                members of the candidate's immediate family.
            ``(3) Amended declaration.--A candidate who--
                    ``(A) declares, pursuant to this Act, that the 
                candidate does not intend to expend funds described in 
                paragraph (2) in excess of $250,000; and
                    ``(B) subsequently changes such declaration or 
                expends such funds in excess of that amount,
        shall file an amended declaration with the Commission and 
        notify all other candidates for the same office not later than 
        24 hours after changing such declaration or exceeding such 
        limits, whichever first occurs, by sending a notice by 
        certified mail, return receipt requested.
    ``(b) General Election Expenditure Limit.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        title, the aggregate amount of expenditures for a general 
        election by an eligible Senate candidate and the candidate's 
        authorized committees shall not exceed the lesser of--
                    ``(A) $5,500,000; or
                    ``(B) the greater of--
                            ``(i) $950,000; or
                            ``(ii) $400,000; plus
                                    ``(I) 30 cents multiplied by the 
                                voting age population not in excess of 
                                4,000,000; and
                                    ``(II) 25 cents multiplied by the 
                                voting age population in excess of 
                                4,000,000.
            ``(2) Exception.--In the case of an eligible Senate 
        candidate in a State that has not more than 1 transmitter for a 
        commercial Very High Frequency (VHF) television station 
        licensed to operate in that State, paragraph (1)(B)(ii) shall 
        be applied by substituting--
                    ``(A) `80 cents' for `30 cents' in subclause (I); 
                and
                    ``(B) `70 cents' for `25 cents' in subclause (II).
            ``(3) Indexing.--The amount otherwise determined under 
        paragraph (1) for any calendar year shall be increased by the 
        same percentage as the percentage increase for such calendar 
        year under section 501(b)(2).
    ``(c) Payment of Taxes.--The limitation under subsection (b) shall 
not apply to any expenditure for Federal, State, or local taxes with 
respect to earnings on contributions raised.
    ``(d) Special Exception for Complying Candidates Running Against 
Non-Complying Candidates.--If in the case of an election with more than 
one candidate where one or more candidates who have received 
contributions in excess of 10 percent of the general election limits 
contained in this Act or has expended personal funds in excess of 10 
percent of the general election limits contained in this Act choose not 
to comply with the provisions of this Act or violate the limitations on 
expenditures contained in this Act, such limitations contained in 
section 502(b) of this Act for the complying candidate(s) shall be 
increased by 20 percent.''

``SEC. 503. BENEFITS ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES ENTITLED TO RECEIVE.

    ``An eligible Senate candidate shall be entitled to receive--
            ``(1) the broadcast media rates provided under section 
        315(b) of the Communications Act of 1934;
            ``(2) the free broadcast time provided under section 315(c) 
        of such Act; and
            ``(3) the reduced postage rates provided in section 3626(e) 
        of title 39, United States Code.

``SEC. 504. CERTIFICATION BY COMMISSION.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 48 hours after an eligible 
candidate qualifies for a general election ballot, the Commission shall 
certify the candidate's eligibility for free broadcast time under 
section 315(b)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934. The Commission 
shall revoke such certification if it determines a candidate fails to 
continue to meet the requirements of this title.
    ``(b) Determinations by Commission.--All determinations (including 
certifications under subsection (a)) made by the Commission under this 
title shall be final, except to the extent that they are subject to 
examination and audit by the Commission under section 505.

``SEC. 505. REPAYMENTS; ADDITIONAL CIVIL PENALTIES.

    ``(a) Excess Payments; Revocation of Status.--If the Commission 
revokes the certification of a candidate as an eligible Senate 
candidate under section 504(a), the Commission shall notify the 
candidate, and the candidate shall pay an amount equal to the value of 
the benefits received under this title.
    ``(b) Misuse of Benefits.--If the Commission determines that any 
benefit made available to an eligible Senate candidate under this title 
was not used as provided for in this title, or that a candidate has 
violated any of the spending limits contained in this Act, the 
Commission shall so notify the candidate and the candidate shall pay an 
amount equal to the value of such benefit.''.
    (b) Transition Period.--Expenditures made before January 1, 1997, 
shall not be counted as expenditures for purposes of the limitations 
contained in the amendment made by subsection (a).

SEC. 102. FREE BROADCAST TIME.

    (a) In General.--Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 315) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``within the meaning of this 
                subsection'' and inserting ``within the meaning of this 
                subsection and subsection (c)'';
                    (B) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
                subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and
                    (C) by inserting immediately after subsection (b) 
                the following new subsection:
    ``(c)(1) An eligible Senate candidate who has qualified for the 
general election ballot shall be entitled to receive a total of 30 
minutes of free broadcast time from broadcasting stations within the 
State or an adjacent State.
    ``(2)(A) Unless a candidate elects otherwise, the broadcast time 
made available under this subsection shall be between 6:00 p.m. and 
10:00 p.m. on any day that falls on Monday through Friday.
    ``(B) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a candidate may use 
such time as the candidate elects except that such time may not be used 
in intervals of less than 30 seconds or more than 5 minutes.
    ``(C) A candidate may not request more than 15 minutes of free 
broadcast time be aired by any one broadcasting station.
    ``(3)(A) In the case of an election among more than 2 candidates, 
the broadcast time provided under paragraph (1) shall be allocated as 
follows:
            ``(i) The amount of broadcast time that shall be provided 
        to the candidate of a minor party shall be equal to the number 
        of minutes allocable to the State multiplied by the percentage 
        of the number of popular votes received by the candidate of 
        that party in the preceding general election for the Senate in 
        the State (or if subsection (d)(4)(B) applies, the percentage 
        determined under such subsection).
            ``(ii) The amount of broadcast time remaining after 
        assignment of broadcast time to minor party candidates under 
        clause (i) shall be allocated equally between the major party 
        candidates.
    ``(B) In the case of an election where only 1 candidate qualifies 
to be on the general election ballot, no time shall be required to be 
provided by a licensee under this subsection.
    ``(4) The Federal Election Commission shall by regulation exempt 
from the requirements of this subsection--
            ``(A) a licensee whose signal is broadcast substantially 
        nationwide; and
            ``(B) a licensee that establishes that such requirements 
        would impose a significant economic hardship on the 
        licensee.''; and
            (2) in subsection (d), as redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (1);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (2) and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
            ``(3) the term `major party' means, with respect to an 
        election for the United States Senate in a State, a political 
        party whose candidate for the United States Senate in the 
        preceding general election for the Senate in that State 
        received, as a candidate of that party, 25 percent or more of 
        the number of popular votes received by all candidates for the 
        Senate;
            ``(4) the term `minor party' means, with respect to an 
        election for the United States Senate in a State, a political 
        party--
                    ``(A) whose candidate for the United States Senate 
                in the preceding general election for the Senate in 
                that State received 5 percent or more but less than 25 
                percent of the number of popular votes received by all 
                candidates for the Senate; or
                    ``(B) whose candidate for the United States Senate 
                in the current general election for the Senate in that 
                State has obtained the signatures of at least 5 percent 
                of the State's registered voters, as determined by the 
                chief voter registration official of the State, in 
                support of a petition for an allocation of free 
                broadcast time under this subsection; and
            ``(5) the term `Senate election cycle' means, with respect 
        to an election to a seat in the United States Senate, the 6-
        year period ending on the date of the general election for that 
        seat.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to general elections occurring after December 31, 1996 (and the 
election cycles relating thereto).

SEC. 103. BROADCAST RATES AND PREEMPTION.

    (a) Broadcast Rates.--Section 315(b) of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 315(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(b) The changes'' and inserting ``(b)(1) 
        The changes'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
            (3) in paragraph (1)(A), as redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``forty-five'' and inserting 
                ``30''; and
                    (B) by striking ``lowest unit charge of the station 
                for the same class and amount of time for the same 
                period'' and inserting ``lowest charge of the station 
                for the same amount of time for the same period on the 
                same date''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) In the case of an eligible Senate candidate (as described in 
section 501(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act), the charges for 
the use of a television broadcasting station during the 30-day period 
and 60-day period referred to in paragraph (1)(A) shall not exceed 50 
percent of the lowest charge described in paragraph (1)(A).''.
    (b) Preemption; Access.--Section 315 of such Act (47 U.S.C. 315), 
as amended by section 102(a), is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
        redesignated, as subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting immediately after subsection (c) the 
        following subsection:
    ``(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a licensee shall not 
preempt the use, during any period specified in subsection (b)(1)(A), 
of a broadcasting station by an eligible Senate candidate who has 
purchased and paid for such use pursuant to subsection (b)(2).
    ``(2) If a program to be broadcast by a broadcasting station is 
preempted because of circumstances beyond the control of the 
broadcasting station, any candidate advertising spot scheduled to be 
broadcast during that program may also be preempted.''.
    (c) Revocation of License for Failure To Permit Access.--Section 
312(a)(7) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 312(a)(7)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``or repeated'';
            (2) by inserting ``or cable system'' after ``broadcasting 
        station''; and
            (3) by striking ``his candidacy'' and inserting ``the 
        candidacy of such person, under the same terms, conditions, and 
        business practices as apply to its most favored advertiser''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to the general elections occurring after December 31, 1995 (and 
the election cycles relating thereto).

SEC. 104. REDUCED POSTAGE RATES.

    (a) In General.--Section 3626(e) of title 39, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``and the National'' and 
                        inserting ``the National''; and
                            (ii) by inserting before the semicolon the 
                        following: ``, and, subject to paragraph (3), 
                        the principal campaign committee of an eligible 
                        Senate candidate;'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and 
                inserting a semicolon; and
                    (D) by adding after subparagraph (C) the following 
                new subparagraphs:
            ``(D) the term `principal campaign committee' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 301 of the Federal Election 
        Campaign Act of 1971; and
            ``(E) the term `eligible Senate candidate' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 501(a) of the Federal Election 
        Campaign Act of 1971.''; and
            (2) by adding after paragraph (2) the following new 
        paragraph:
    ``(3) The rate made available under this subsection with respect to 
an eligible Senate candidate shall apply only to that number of pieces 
of mail equal to 2 times the number of individuals in the voting age 
population (as certified under section 315(e) of such Act) of the 
State.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to the general elections occurring after December 31, 1996 (and 
the election cycles relating thereto).

SEC. 105. CONTRIBUTION LIMIT FOR ELIGIBLE SENATE CANDIDATES.

    Section 315(a)(1) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``except as provided in subparagraph 
        (B),'' before ``to'' in subparagraph (A);
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
        subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting immediately after subparagraph (A) the 
        following new subparagraph:
            ``(B) to any eligible Senate candidate and the authorized 
        political committees of such candidate with respect to any 
        election for the office of United States Senator (if any other 
        Senate candidate chooses not to comply with the expenditure 
        limits contained in this Act and has received contributions in 
        excess of 10 percent of the general election limits contained 
        in this Act or has expended personal funds in excess of 10 
        percent of the general election limits contained in this Act) 
        which, in the aggregate, exceed $2,000;''.

           TITLE II--REDUCTION OF SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE

  Subtitle A--Elimination of Political Action Committees From Federal 
                          Election Activities

SEC. 201. BAN ON ACTIVITIES OF POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES IN FEDERAL 
              ELECTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Title III of FECA (2 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

  ``ban on federal election activities by political action committees

    ``Sec. 324. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no 
person other than an individual or a political committee may make 
contributions, solicit or receive contributions, or make expenditures 
for the purpose of influencing an election for Federal office.''.
    (b) Definition of Political Committee.--(1) Section 301(4) of FECA 
(2 U.S.C. 431(4)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(4) The term `political committee' means--
                    ``(A) the principal campaign committee of a 
                candidate;
                    ``(B) any national, State, or district committee of 
                a political party, including any subordinate committee 
                thereof;
                    ``(C) any local committee of a political party 
                that--
                            ``(i) receives contributions aggregating in 
                        excess of $5,000 during a calendar year;
                            ``(ii) makes payments exempted from the 
                        definition of contribution or expenditure under 
                        paragraph (8) or (9) aggregating in excess of 
                        $5,000 during a calendar year; or
                            ``(iii) makes contributions or expenditures 
                        aggregating in excess of $1,000 during a 
                        calendar year; and
                    ``(D) any committee jointly established by a 
                principal campaign committee and any committee 
                described in subparagraph (B) or (C) for the purpose of 
                conducting joint fundraising activities.''.
    (2) Section 316(b)(2) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 441b(b)(2)) is amended--
            (A) by inserting ``or'' after ``subject;'';
            (B) by striking ``and their families; and'' and inserting 
        ``and their families.''; and
            (C) by striking subparagraph (C).
    (c) Candidate's Committees.--(1) Section 315(a) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 
441a(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(9) For the purposes of the limitations provided by paragraphs 
(1) and (2), any political committee that is established, financed, 
maintained, or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any candidate or 
Federal officeholder shall be deemed to be an authorized committee of 
such candidate or officeholder.''.
    (2) Section 302(e)(3) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 432) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(3) No political committee that supports, or has supported, more 
than one candidate may be designated as an authorized committee, except 
that--
            ``(A) a candidate for the office of President nominated by 
        a political party may designate the national committee of such 
        political party as the candidate's principal campaign 
        committee, if that national committee maintains separate books 
        of account with respect to its functions as a principal 
        campaign committee; and
            ``(B) a candidate may designate a political committee 
        established solely for the purpose of joint fundraising by such 
        candidates as an authorized committee.''.
    (d) Rules Applicable When Ban Not in Effect.--(1) For purposes of 
FECA, during any period beginning after the effective date in which the 
limitation under section 324 of that Act (as added by subsection (a)) 
is not in effect--
            (A) the amendments made by subsections (a), (b), and (c) 
        shall not be in effect;
            (B) it shall be unlawful for a multicandidate political 
        committee, intermediary, or conduit (as that term is defined in 
        section 315(a)(8) of FECA, as amended by section 231 of this 
        Act), to make a contribution to a candidate for election, or 
        nomination for election, to Federal office (or an authorized 
        committee) to the extent that the making or accepting of the 
        contribution will cause the amount of contributions received by 
        the candidate and the candidate's authorized committees from 
        multicandidate political committees to exceed 20 percent of the 
        aggregate Federal election spending limits applicable to the 
        candidate for the election cycle; and
            (C) it shall be unlawful for a political committee, 
        intermediary, or conduit, as that term is defined in section 
        315(a)(8) of FECA (as amended by section 231 of this Act), to 
make a contribution to a candidate for election, or a nomination for an 
election, to Federal office (or an authorized committee of such 
candidate) in excess of the amount an individual is allowed to give 
directly to a candidate or a candidate's authorized committee.
    (2) A candidate or authorized committee that receives a 
contribution from a multicandidate political committee in excess of the 
amount allowed under paragraph (1)(B) shall return the amount of such 
excess contribution to the contributor.

   Subtitle B--Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties

SEC. 211.

    A national committee of a political party, including the national 
congressional campaign committees of a political party, and any 
officers or agents of such party committees, shall not solicit or 
receive any contributions, donations, or transfers of funds, or spend 
any funds, not subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting 
requirements of this Act. This provision shall apply to any entity that 
is established, financed, maintained or controlled by a national 
committee of a political party, including the national congressional 
campaign committees of a political party, and any officer or agents of 
such party committees, other than an entity that is regulated by 
section (2) below.

SEC. 212.

    (a) Any amount expended or disbursed by a State, district, or local 
committee of a political party, during a calendar year in which a 
Federal election is held, for any activity which might affect the 
outcome of a Federal election, including but not limited to any voter 
registration and get-out-the-vote activity, any generic campaign 
activity, and any communication that identifies a Federal candidate 
(regardless of whether a State or local candidate is also mentioned or 
identified) shall be made from funds subject to the limitations, 
prohibitions and reporting requirements of this Act.
    (b) Paragraph (a) shall not apply to expenditures or disbursements 
made by a State, district or local committee of a political party for--
            (1) a contribution to a candidate other than for Federal 
        office, provided that such contribution is not designated or 
        otherwise earmarked to pay for activities described in 
        subparagraph (a) above;
            (2) the costs of a State or district/local political 
        convention;
            (3) the non-Federal share of a State, district or local 
        party committee's administrative and overhead expenses (but not 
        including the compensation in any month of any individual who 
        spends more than 20 percent of his or her time on activity 
        during such month which may affect the outcome of a Federal 
        election). For purposes of this provision, the non-federal 
        share of a party committee's administrative and overhead 
        expenses shall be determined by applying the ratio of the non-
        Federal disbursements to the total Federal expenditures and 
        non-Federal disbursements made by the committee during the 
        previous presidential election year to the committee's 
        administrative and overhead expenses in the election year in 
        question;
            (4) the costs of grassroots campaign materials, including 
        buttons, bumperstickers, and yard signs, which material solely 
        name or depict a State or local candidate; and
            (5) the cost of any campaign activity conducted solely on 
        behalf of a clearly identified State or local candidate, 
        provided that such activity is not covered by subparagraph (a) 
        above.
    (c) Any amount spent by a national, State, district or local 
committee or entity of a political party to raise funds that are used, 
in whole or in part, to pay the costs of any activity covered by 
paragraph 2(a) above shall be made from funds subject to the 
limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of this Act.
    This provision shall apply to any entity that is established, 
financed, maintained, or controlled by a State, district or local 
committee of a political party or any agent or officer of such party 
committee in the same manner as it applies to that committee.

SEC. 213.

    No national, State, district or local committee of a political 
party shall solicit any funds for or make any donations to any 
organization that is exempt from Federal taxation under 26 U.S.C. 
501(c).

SEC. 214.

    No candidate for Federal office, individual holding Federal office, 
or any agent of such candidate or officeholder, may solicit or receive 
any funds in connection with any Federal election unless such funds are 
subject to the limitations, prohibitions and reporting requirements of 
this Act; This provision shall not apply to the solicitation or receipt 
of funds by an individual who is a candidate for a non-Federal office 
if such activity is permitted under State law for such individual's 
non-Federal campaign committee.

SEC. 215. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Reporting Requirements.--Section 304 of FECA (2 U.S.C. 434) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Political Committees.--(1) The national committee of a 
political party, any congressional campaign committee of a political 
party, and any subordinate committee of either, shall report all 
receipts and disbursements during the reporting period, whether or not 
in connection with an election for Federal office.
    ``(2) A political committee (not described in paragraph (1)) to 
which section 325 applies shall report all receipts and disbursements 
including separate schedules for receipts and disbursements for any 
State Party Grassroots Fund described in section 301(21).
    ``(3) Any political committee to which section 325 applies shall 
include in its report under paragraph (1) or (2) the amount of any 
transfer described in section 325(d)(2) and shall itemize such amounts 
to the extent required by subsection (b)(3)(A).
    ``(4) Any political committee to which paragraph (1) or (2) does 
not apply shall report any receipts or disbursements that are used in 
connection with a Federal election.
    ``(5) If a political committee has receipts or disbursements to 
which this subsection applies from any person aggregating in excess of 
$200 for any calendar year, the political committee shall separately 
itemize its reporting for such person in the same manner as required in 
subsection (b) (3)(A), (5), or (6).
    ``(6) Reports required to be filed under this subsection shall be 
filed for the same time periods required for political committees under 
subsection (a).''.
    (b) Report of Exempt Contributions.--Section 301(8) of FECA (2 
U.S.C. 431(8)) is amended by inserting at the end the following:
                    ``(C) The exclusion provided in subparagraph 
                (B)(viii) shall not apply for purposes of any 
                requirement to report contributions under this Act, and 
                all such contributions aggregating in excess of $200 
                shall be reported.''.
    (c) Reports by State Committees.--Section 304 of FECA (2 U.S.C. 
434), as amended by subsection (a), is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(e) Filing of State Reports.--In lieu of any report required to 
be filed by this Act, the Commission may allow a State committee of a 
political party to file with the Commission a report required to be 
filed under State law if the Commission determines such reports contain 
substantially the same information.''.
    (d) Other Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Authorized committees.--Section 304(b)(4) of FECA (2 
        U.S.C. 434(b)(4)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (H);
                    (B) by inserting ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (I); and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(J) in the case of an authorized committee, 
                disbursements for the primary election, the general 
                election, and any other election in which the candidate 
                participates;''.
            (2) Names and addresses.--Section 304(b)(5)(A) of FECA (2 
        U.S.C. 434(b)(5)(A)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``within the calendar year''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, and the election to which the 
                operating expenditure relates'' after ``operating 
                expenditure''.

     Subtitle C--Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties

SEC. 221. SOFT MONEY OF PERSONS OTHER THAN POLITICAL PARTIES.

    Section 304 of FECA (2 U.S.C. 434), as amended by section 215(c), 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Election Activity of Persons Other Than Political Parties.--
(1)(A)(i) If any person to which section 325 does not apply makes (or 
obligates to make) disbursements for activities described in section 
325(b) in excess of $2,000, such person shall file a statement--
            ``(I) on or before the date that is 48 hours before the 
        disbursements (or obligations) are made; or
            ``(II) in the case of disbursements (or obligations) that 
        are required to be made within 14 days of the election, on or 
        before such 14th day.
    ``(ii) An additional statement shall be filed each time additional 
disbursements aggregating $2,000 are made (or obligated to be made) by 
a person described in clause (i).
    ``(B) This paragraph shall not apply to--
            ``(i) a candidate or a candidate's authorized committees; 
        or
            ``(ii) an independent expenditure (as defined in section 
        301(17)).
    ``(2) Any statement under this section shall be filed with the 
Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, 
and the Secretary of State (or equivalent official) of the State 
involved, as appropriate, and shall contain such information as the 
Commission shall prescribe, including whether the disbursement is in 
support of, or in opposition to, 1 or more candidates or any political 
party. The Secretary of the Senate or Clerk of the House of 
Representatives shall, as soon as possible (but not later than 24 hours 
after receipt), transmit a statement to the Commission. Not later than 
48 hours after receipt, the Commission shall transmit the statement 
to--
            ``(A) the candidates or political parties involved; or
            ``(B) if the disbursement is not in support of, or in 
        opposition to, a candidate or political party, the State 
        committees of each political party in the State involved.
    ``(3) The Commission may make its own determination that 
disbursements described in paragraph (1) have been made or are 
obligated to be made. The Commission shall notify the candidates or 
political parties described in paragraph (2) not later than 24 hours 
after its determination.''.

                       Subtitle D--Contributions

SEC. 231. CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES AND CONDUITS.

    Section 315(a)(8) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(8)) is amended to read 
as follows:
            ``(8) For the purposes of this subsection:
                    ``(A) Contributions made by a person, either 
                directly or indirectly, to or on behalf of a particular 
                candidate, including contributions that are in any way 
                earmarked or otherwise directed through an intermediary 
                or conduit to a candidate, shall be treated as 
                contributions from the person to the candidate. If a 
                contribution is made to a candidate through an 
                intermediary or conduit, the intermediary or conduit 
                shall report the original source and the intended 
                recipient of the contribution to the Commission and the 
                intended recipient.
                    ``(B) Contributions made directly or indirectly by 
                a person to or on behalf of a particular candidate 
                through an intermediary or conduit, including 
                contributions arranged to be made by an intermediary or 
                conduit, shall be treated as contributions from the 
                intermediary or conduit to the candidate if--
                            ``(i) the contributions made through the 
                        intermediary or conduit are in the form of a 
                        check or other negotiable instrument made 
                        payable to the intermediary or conduit rather 
                        than the intended recipient; or
                            ``(ii) the intermediary or conduit is--
                                    ``(I) a political committee, a 
                                political party, or an officer, 
                                employee, or agent of either;
                                    ``(II) a person whose activities 
                                are required to be reported under 
                                section 308 of the Federal Regulation 
                                of Lobbying Act (2 U.S.C. 267), the 
                                Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 
                                (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.), or any 
                                successor Federal law requiring a 
                                person who is a lobbyist or foreign 
                                agent to report the activities of such 
                                person;
                                    ``(III) a person who is prohibited 
                                from making contributions under section 
                                316 or a partnership; or
                                    ``(IV) an officer, employee, or 
                                agent of a person described in 
                                subclause (II) or (III) acting on 
                                behalf of such person.
                    ``(C) The term `contributions arranged to be made' 
                includes--
                            ``(i)(I) contributions delivered directly 
                        or indirectly to a particular candidate or the 
                        candidate's authorized committee or agent by 
                        the person who facilitated the contribution; 
                        and
                            ``(II) contributions made directly or 
                        indirectly to a particular candidate or the 
                        candidate's authorized committee or agent that 
                        are provided at a fundraising event sponsored 
                        by an intermediary or conduit described in 
                        subparagraph (B);
                    (D) This paragraph shall not prohibit--
                            ``(i) fundraising efforts for the benefit 
                        of a candidate that are conducted by another 
                        candidate or Federal officeholder; or
                            ``(ii) the solicitation by an individual 
                        using the individual's resources and acting in 
                        the individual's own name of contributions from 
                        other persons in a manner not described in 
                        paragraphs (B) and (C).''.

          Subtitle E--Additional Prohibitions on Contributions

SEC. 241. ALLOWABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR COMPLYING CANDIDATES.

    For the purposes of this Act, in order for a candidate to be 
considered to be in compliance with the spending limits contained in 
this Act, not less than 60 percent of the total dollar amount of all 
contributions from individuals to a candidate or a candidate's 
authorized committee, not including any expenditures, contributions or 
loans made by the candidate, shall come from individuals legally 
residing in the candidate's State.

                  Subtitle F--Independent Expenditures

SEC. 251. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITIONS RELATING TO INDEPENDENT 
              EXPENDITURES.

    (a) Independent Expenditure Definition Amendment.--Section 301 of 
FECA (2 U.S.C. 431) is amended by striking paragraphs (17) and (18) and 
inserting the following:
    ``(17)(A) The term `independent expenditure' means an expenditure 
that--
            ``(i) contains express advocacy; and
            ``(ii) is made without the participation or cooperation of, 
        or without the consultation of, a candidate or a candidate's 
        representative.
    ``(B) The following shall not be considered an independent 
expenditure:
            ``(i) An expenditure made by--
                    ``(I) an authorized committee of a candidate for 
                Federal office, or
                    ``(II) a political committee of a political party.
            ``(ii) An expenditure if there is any arrangement, 
        coordination, or direction with respect to the expenditure 
        between the candidate or the candidate's agent and the person 
        making the expenditure.
            ``(iii) An expenditure if, in the same election cycle, the 
        person making the expenditure is or has been--
                    ``(I) authorized to raise or expend funds on behalf 
                of the candidate or the candidate's authorized 
                committees; or
                    ``(II) serving as a member, employee, or agent of 
                the candidate's authorized committees in an executive 
                or policymaking position.
            ``(iv) An expenditure if the person making the expenditure 
        has advised or counseled the candidate or the candidate's 
        agents at any time on the candidate's plans, projects, or needs 
        relating to the candidate's pursuit of nomination for election, 
        or election, to Federal office, in the same election cycle, 
        including any advice relating to the candidate's decision to 
        seek Federal office.
            ``(v) An expenditure if the person making the expenditure 
        retains the professional services of any individual or other 
        person also providing services in the same election cycle to 
        the candidate in connection with the candidate's pursuit of 
        nomination for election, or election, to Federal office, 
        including any services relating to the candidate's decision to 
        seek Federal office. For purposes of this clause, the term 
        `professional services' shall include any services (other than 
        legal and accounting services solely for purposes of ensuring 
        compliance with any Federal law) in support of any candidate's 
        or candidates' pursuit of nomination for election, or election, 
        to Federal office.
For purposes of this subparagraph, the person making the expenditure 
shall include any officer, director, employee, or agent of such person.
    ``(18)(A) The term `express advocacy' means when a communication is 
taken as a whole and with limited reference to external events, an 
expression of support for or opposition to a specific candidate, to a 
specific group of candidates, or to candidates of a particular 
political party.
    ``(B) The term `expression of support for or opposition to' 
includes a suggestion to take action with respect to an election, such 
as to vote for or against, make contributions to, or participate in 
campaign activity, or to refrain from taking action.''.
    (b) Contribution Definition Amendment.--Section 301(8)(A) of FECA 
(2 U.S.C. 431(8)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``or'' after the semicolon 
        at the end;
            (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
            ``(iii) any payment or other transaction referred to in 
        paragraph (17)(A)(i) that is not an independent expenditure 
        under paragraph (17).''.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR PERSONAL PURPOSES.

    (a) Restrictions on Use of Campaign Funds.--Title III of FECA (2 
U.S.C. 431 et seq.), as amended by section 213(a), is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section:

     ``restrictions on use of campaign funds for personal purposes

    ``Sec. 326. (a) An individual who receives contributions as a 
candidate for Federal office--
            ``(1) shall use such contributions only for legitimate and 
        verifiable campaign expenses; and
            ``(2) shall not use such contributions for any inherently 
        personal purpose.
    ``(b) As used in this subsection--
            ``(1) the term `campaign expenses' means expenses 
        attributable solely to bona fide campaign purposes; and
            ``(2) the term `inherently personal purpose' means a 
        purpose that, by its nature, confers a personal benefit, 
        including a home mortgage rent or utility payment, clothing 
        purchase, noncampaign automobile expense, country club 
        membership, vacation, or trip of a noncampaign nature, 
        household food items, tuition payment, admission to a sporting 
        event, concert, theatre or other form of entertainment not 
        associated with a campaign, dues, fees, or contributions to a 
        health club or recreational facility and any other inherently 
        personal living expense as determined under the regulations 
        promulgated pursuant to section 302(b) of the Senate Campaign 
        Spending Limit and Election Reform Act of 1995.''.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Federal Election Commission shall promulgate 
regulations consistent with this Act to implement subsection (a). Such 
regulations shall apply to all contributions possessed by an individual 
on the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 302. CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING AMENDMENTS.

    Section 318 of FECA (2 U.S.C. 441d) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Whenever'' and inserting 
                        ``Whenever a political committee makes a 
                        disbursement for the purpose of financing any 
                        communication through any broadcasting station, 
                        newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising 
                        facility, mailing, or any other type of general 
                        public political advertising, or whenever'';
                            (ii) by striking ``an expenditure'' and 
                        inserting ``a disbursement''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``direct''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and permanent 
                street address'' after ``name''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(c) Any printed communication described in subsection (a) shall 
be--
            ``(1) of sufficient type size to be clearly readable by the 
        recipient of the communication;
            ``(2) contained in a printed box set apart from the other 
        contents of the communication; and
            ``(3) consist of a reasonable degree of color contrast 
        between the background and the printed statement.
    ``(d)(1) Any broadcast or cablecast communication described in 
subsection (a)(1) or subsection (a)(2) shall include, in addition to 
the requirements of those subsections, an audio statement by the 
candidate that identifies the candidate and states that the candidate 
has approved the communication.
    ``(2) If a broadcast or cablecast communication described in 
paragraph (1) is broadcast or cablecast by means of television, the 
communication shall include, in addition to the audio statement under 
paragraph (1), a written statement which--
            ``(A) appears at the end of the communication in a clearly 
        readable manner with a reasonable degree of color contrast 
        between the background and the printed statement, for a period 
        of at least 4 seconds; and
            ``(B) is accompanied by a clearly identifiable photographic 
        or similar image of the candidate.
    ``(e) Any broadcast or cablecast communication described in 
subsection (a)(3) shall include, in addition to the requirements of 
those subsections, in a clearly spoken manner, the following statement: 
`________________ is responsible for the content of this 
advertisement.' (with the blank to be filled in with the name of the 
political committee or other person paying for the communication and 
the name of any connected organization of the payor). If broadcast or 
cablecast by means of television, the statement shall also appear in a 
clearly readable manner with a reasonable degree of color contrast 
between the background and the printed statement, for a period of at 
least 4 seconds.''.

SEC. 303. FILING OF REPORTS USING COMPUTERS AND FACSIMILE MACHINES.

    Section 302(g) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 432(g)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(6)(A) The Commission, in consultation with the Secretary 
        of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, 
        may prescribe regulations under which persons required to file 
        designations, statements, and reports under this Act--
                    ``(i) are required to maintain and file them for 
                any calendar year in electronic form accessible by 
                computers if the person has, or has reason to expect to 
                have, aggregate contributions or expenditures in excess 
                of a threshold amount determined by the Commission; and
                    ``(ii) may maintain and file them in that manner if 
                not required to do so under regulations prescribed 
                under clause (i).
            ``(B) The Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of 
        the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, shall 
        prescribe regulations which allow persons to file designations, 
        statements, and reports required by this Act through the use of 
        facsimile machines.
            ``(C) In prescribing regulations under this paragraph, the 
        Commission shall provide methods (other than requiring a 
        signature on the document being filed) for verifying 
        designations, statements, and reports covered by the 
        regulations. Any document verified under any of the methods 
        shall be treated for all purposes (including penalties for 
        perjury) in the same manner as a document verified by 
        signature.
            ``(D) The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the 
        House of Representatives shall ensure that any computer or 
        other system that they may develop and maintain to receive 
        designations, statements, and reports in the forms required or 
        permitted under this paragraph is compatible with any such 
        system that the Commission may develop and maintain.''.

SEC. 304. AUDITS.

    (a) Random Audits.--Section 311(b) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 438(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Commission''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commission may after all 
elections are completed conduct random audits and investigations to 
ensure voluntary compliance with this Act. The subjects of such audits 
and investigations shall be selected on the basis of criteria 
established by vote of at least 4 members of the Commission to ensure 
impartiality in the selection process. This paragraph does not apply to 
an authorized committee of a candidate for President or Vice President 
subject to audit under title VI or to an authorized committee of an 
eligible Senate candidate or an eligible House candidate subject to 
audit under section 522(a).''.
    (b) Extension of Period During Which Campaign Audits May Be 
Begun.--Section 311(b) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 438(b)) is amended by striking 
``6 months'' and inserting ``12 months''.

SEC. 305. LIMIT ON CONGRESSIONAL USE OF THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.

    Section 3210(a)(6)(A) of title 39, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
                    ``(A) A Member of Congress shall not mail any mass 
                mailing as franked mail during a year in which there 
                will be an election for the seat held by the Member 
                during the period between January 1 of that year and 
                the date of the general election for that Office, 
                unless the Member has made a public announcement that 
                the Member will not be a candidate for reelection to 
                that year or for election to any other Federal 
                office.''.

SEC. 306. AUTHORITY TO SEEK INJUNCTION.

    Section 309(a) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 437g(a)) is amended--
            (1) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(13)(A) If, at any time in a proceeding described in paragraph 
(1), (2), (3), or (4), the Commission believes that--
            ``(i) there is a substantial likelihood that a violation of 
        this Act is occurring or is about to occur;
            ``(ii) the failure to act expeditiously will result in 
        irreparable harm to a party affected by the potential 
        violation;
            ``(iii) expeditious action will not cause undue harm or 
        prejudice to the interests of others; and
            ``(iv) the public interest would be best served by the 
        issuance of an injunction,
the Commission may initiate a civil action for a temporary restraining 
order or a temporary injunction pending the outcome of the proceedings 
described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4).
    ``(B) An action under subparagraph (A) shall be brought in the 
United States district court for the district in which the defendant 
resides, transacts business, or may be found, or in which the violation 
is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur.'';
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``(5) or (6)'' and 
        inserting ``(5), (6), or (13)''; and
            (3) in paragraph (11), by striking ``(6)'' and inserting 
        ``(6) or (13)''.

SEC. 307. SEVERABILITY.

    If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the 
application of such provision or amendment to any person or 
circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, 
the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions 
of such to any person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 308. EXPEDITED REVIEW OF CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.

    (a) Direct Appeal to Supreme Court.--An appeal may be taken 
directly to the Supreme Court of the United States from any 
interlocutory order or final judgment, decree, or order issued by any 
court ruling on the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or 
amendment made by this Act.
    (b) Acceptance and Expedition.--The Supreme Court shall, if it has 
not previously ruled on the question addressed in the ruling below, 
accept jurisdiction over, advance on the docket, and expedite the 
appeal to the greatest extent possible.

SEC. 309. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Contributors.--Section 302(c)(3) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 432(c)(3)) 
is amended by striking ``$200'' and inserting ``$50''.
    (b) Disbursements.--Section 302(c)(5) of FECA (2 U.S.C. 432(c)(5)) 
is amended by striking ``$200'' and inserting ``$50''.

SEC. 310. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by, 
and the provisions of, this Act shall take effect on January 1, 1997.

SEC. 311. REGULATIONS.

    The Federal Election Commission shall prescribe any regulations 
required to carry out this Act not later than 9 months after the 
effective date of this Act.
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