110 HR 421 IH: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-01-11
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Federal Election
Administration Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
TITLE I—FEDERAL ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 101. Establishment of the Federal
Election Administration.
Sec. 102. Executive schedule
positions.
Sec. 103. GAO examination of enforcement
of campaign finance laws by the Department of Justice.
Sec. 104. GAO study and report on
appropriate funding levels.
Sec. 105. Conforming
amendments.
Sec. 106. Authorization of
appropriations.
TITLE II—TRANSITION PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Transfer of functions of Federal
Election Commission.
Sec. 202. Transfer of property, records,
and personnel.
Sec. 203. Repeals.
Sec. 204. Conforming
amendments.
Sec. 205. Effective date.
<enum>I</enum><header>FEDERAL ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION</header>
<section id="HD25EB113735C4B699074486C3D3525AC"><enum>101.</enum><header>Establishment
of the Federal Election Administration</header>
<subsection id="H6422A051C9E5451B978926A5DB2E939"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>Title III of the <act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal
Election Campaign Act of 1971</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/431">2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subtitle:</text>
<quoted-block act-name="Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971" id="H6C7A9829419542670015F06A920914C" style="OLC">
<subtitle id="H48B3ADE2FA524B45B9B31B2EBACB8595"><enum>B</enum><header>Administrative
Provisions</header>
<chapter id="HCFE4E66AA68443B6866E38225FBE90CD"><enum>1</enum><header>ESTABLISHMENT OF
THE FEDERAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATION</header>
<section id="HA1BD27DE07654E5C94957E4982F8AB8B"><enum>351.</enum><header>Establishment
of the Federal Election Administration</header>
<subsection id="H0B5AA3A7AFC041498DF1A64401AD376E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>There is established the Federal Election Administration
(in this Act referred to as the <quote>Administration</quote>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA0C17BB2D50D462A86BBEE27B800DC62"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Independent
Establishment</header><text>The Administration shall be an independent
establishment (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/104">section 104</external-xref> of title 5, United States
Code).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H54C2BDE96A134206BBE3C55C414EBB5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The
Administration shall administer, seek to obtain compliance with, enforce, and
formulate policy in a manner that is consistent with the language and intent of
Congress with respect to the following statutes:</text>
<paragraph id="H4F12FF6526E540F0B000CF1EDC370098"><enum>(1)</enum><text>This Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFE481AD1509D4DDA9E7824E03B59D940"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Presidential
Election Campaign Fund Act under chapter 95 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBA36272BBE6C4BD792ACFDBE61A8A1C5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Presidential
Primary Matching Payment Account Act under chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF9B5E8887ED04E38B141F2EEA1138DD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Exclusive Civil
Jurisdiction</header><text>The Administration shall have exclusive jurisdiction
with respect to the civil enforcement of the statutes identified in subsection
(c).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF0CB89BBBDE948DDAC733C2CCA00CDE"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Voting
Requirement</header><text>All decisions of the Administration with respect to
the exercise of its duties and powers under this Act, except those expressly
reserved for decision by the Chair, shall be made by a majority vote of its
members.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HFE5F0DF040AE4EACAA4FDB99F8637946"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Meetings and
Quorum</header>
<paragraph id="H0B26CF5EB30B44C4A6325164141951AE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Meetings</header><text>The
Administration shall meet—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4E872CE7755A409FA004914F02DB7F63"><enum>(A)</enum><text>at least once each
month; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9ADA7EBE01BD4218A6F7A0D775A1FD44"><enum>(B)</enum><text>at the call of the
Chair.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H90777FB8191D4AA0B1A720FE0064648B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Quorum</header><text>A
majority of the members of the Administration shall constitute a quorum.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE9EBA6DE179748BF95188FDE2D8600A7"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Seal</header><text>The
Administration shall procure a proper seal, with such suitable inscriptions and
devices as the President shall approve. This seal, to be known as the official
seal of the Federal Election Administration, shall be kept and used to verify
official documents, under such rules and regulations as the Administration may
prescribe. Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3D9FBE73C59B4D329916A47584C72C8"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Principal
Office</header><text>The principal office of the Administration shall be in or
near the District of Columbia, but the Administration may meet or exercise any
of its powers anywhere in the United States.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HF30D8C8CA51946ABBF00F2C05276401E"><enum>352.</enum><header>Composition of
the Federal Election Administration</header>
<subsection id="H624F831B19344A6CA26BC96B00A7791C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The Administration shall be composed of 3 members, 1 of
whom shall serve as the Chair of the Administration. No member of the
Administration shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HB54D0DAE1E8B46BFA6144F79E01365CE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be affiliated with
the same political party as any other member of the Administration while
serving as a member of the Administration; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H58085933EE444CFB8C8CA08700B08B92"><enum>(2)</enum><text>have been
affiliated with the same political party as any other member of the
Administration at any time during the 5-year period ending on the date on which
such individual is nominated to be a member of the Administration.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H56DF584CE7474E3790D8065C2FF3A0EB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Appointment</header>
<paragraph id="HF2FB45E2D2FE45C3A5DC512FB6DF71D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Each member of the Administration shall be appointed by
the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H55170E93E5124256AE119E36AF1EBBD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Chair</header><text>The
President shall, at the time of nomination of the first 3 members of the
Administration, designate 1 of the 3 to serve as the Chair. Any individual
appointed to succeed, or to fill the unexpired term of, that member (or any
member succeeding that member) shall serve as the Chair.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H208553092D6D4048878BB5011DE460E4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Qualifications</header>
<subparagraph id="H000631ADB6C643159885A8CCFDE96FEC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>An individual who
is appointed under paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<clause id="HF9136F2846D94AC4847C58393418F151"><enum>(i)</enum><text>possess
demonstrated integrity, independence, and public credibility; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HB2A97043B23D4AB3823C1080680215FE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall have not
less than 5 years professional experience in law enforcement, including such
experience gained—</text>
<subclause id="H758D9B896C3B4589833E7EDE26C28CB7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in service as a
member of the judiciary;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H61A47149A487460E82E00541A5C0906C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>as a member or an
employee of a Federal, State, or local campaign finance or ethics enforcement
agency; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD78268DDF95145F2AA23590088E2C1B6"><enum>(III)</enum><text>as a law
enforcement official in a Federal or State enforcement agency or office.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDB568C095A0B4AA1B2E514CF8BA2AFF4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An individual may
not be appointed under paragraph (1) if—</text>
<clause id="HB962ECDB37104F6D889EF37516002BF6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>such individual is
serving or has served as a member of the Federal Election Commission subject to
a term limit; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HE33BC293195C4D1289B6F4943C655B74"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>at any time
during the 4-year period ending on the date of the nomination of such
individual, the individual was—</text>
<subclause id="HD440C0A7A0C74E2BBC0097BE63CD96A6"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a candidate, an
employee of a candidate, or an attorney for a candidate;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HE9B7215DB59C4511A666711BEAA34727"><enum>(II)</enum><text>an elected
officeholder, an employee of an elected officeholder, or an attorney for an
elected officeholder;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HC3606CCFE36D4156B7C8D519A98FB2D"><enum>(III)</enum><text>an officer or
employee of a political party or an attorney for a political party; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H24E3D43715A44C44BAAA048859C7C718"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>employed in a
position in the executive branch of the Government of a confidential or
policy-determining character under Schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title
5 of the Code of Federal Regulations.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H03195997025C4D9C8C4316694B2CFAB8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Term of
Office</header>
<paragraph id="H8B93A8125CC94EFD8DFD006609A52FDB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<subparagraph id="H35EA1AC0192C43FD972DF4E212748366"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Chair</header><text>The
Chair of the Administration shall be appointed for a term of 10 years.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6FB70B3D5EC047669BFCA97E7686FFEB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Other
members</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (C), the 2 members of the
Administration other than the Chair shall be appointed for a term of 6
years.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCE9FC689B52747E0BAF8DE125FDAD6D7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Initial
appointments</header><text>Of the members initially appointed under
subparagraph (B), 1 member shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC31FCCEC12194E3C9C0010FCC4939E90"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation to
one term</header><text>A member of the Administration may only serve 1 term,
except that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H16DA634253B7474181A10154C30AD13"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the individual
appointed under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) who is appointed for the term
described in subparagraph (C) of such paragraph may be appointed to a 6-year
term in addition to the term described in such subparagraph; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H675270D950024736A7D7B60000B53C61"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an individual
appointed under paragraph (4) to fill the remainder of an unexpired term that
has less than <fraction>1/2</fraction> of the term remaining may be appointed
to serve another term.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1D8BF6315E14488596FD2D938CDBA595"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Expired
terms</header><text>An individual may continue to serve as a member of the
Administration after the expiration of such individual’s term until the earlier
of—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF6C116A18ED4455BB3D135B720DB4CDD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date on which
such individual’s successor has taken office; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF29691306CB64B6394CECB0251E7B7EC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>1 year following
the date on which the term of such member expired.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD16E851A04C74847873F4E00CFBDFCFB"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Vacancies</header><text>An
individual appointed upon a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term
for which the individual’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only
for the unexpired term of the predecessor. Such vacancy shall be filled in the
same manner as the original appointment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB258426F84D6495D9271CE41639B868F"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Other
activities</header><text>An individual may not engage in any other business,
vocation, or employment while serving as a member of the Administration.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7A6F3CF5D3834BFDBF3777FFCBED7DF3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Removal</header><text>A
member of the Administration may be removed by the President only for
inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HB3C8670477D149BD81015E8CE9EE0418"><enum>353.</enum><header>Staff
director</header>
<subsection id="HC18E335041994A688D52E371F4B36E6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>There shall be in the Administration a staff
director.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H57650328ADC64386A99C4898E02B0000"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Responsibilities</header><text>The
staff director—</text>
<paragraph id="H3D3ADBBF610047E09B1C7213017D2ED3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall assist the
Administration in its administration and operations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFF32E19AEFE2481BA34E7533CC35C672"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall perform such
responsibilities as the Administration shall prescribe; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H21D1043047B744969F6251B019C8B83E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>may, with the
approval of the Chair—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5F3AFFB13D374047A821817B289B715E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>appoint and fix
the pay of such additional personnel as the staff director considers
appropriate without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6354487A936D42A6A7F351338F3DD374"><enum>(B)</enum><text>procure temporary
and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized by section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to
exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade
GS–15 of the General Schedule (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5332">5 U.S.C. 5332</external-xref>).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDB8BF1184CA947828B98293E344DEAE5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text>The
staff director shall be appointed by the Chair, after consultation with the
other members of the Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8A176221AD004E0AB63858A7081C6450"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Other
Activities</header><text>An individual may not engage in any other business,
vocation, or employment while serving as the staff director.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HFF9CE29892544508B319EDEA2FA300CB"><enum>354.</enum><header>General
counsel</header>
<subsection id="H4F5E41FA307544D600A738E6F3BC681F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>There shall be in the Administration a general
counsel.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HCC766F0F87F84520A724E897A30065F2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Responsibilities</header><text>The
general counsel shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H662F4EBB463944E291C4C7CA12F3D31B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>serve as the chief
legal officer of the Administration;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBED04C57AD034D668412FC2B9F33FB7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide legal
assistance to the Administration concerning its programs and policies;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H124B40B55C7B414B8B9801ACB4136BE0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>advise and assist
the Administration in carrying out its responsibilities under section 361;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8039069933C641D690F36E7125D46E46"><enum>(4)</enum><text>represent the
Administration in any proceeding in court or before an administrative law
judge.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB96C9B5D30E944A5B14ED1506F1342DE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text>The
general counsel shall be appointed by the Chair, subject to approval by
majority vote of the members of the Administration.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HE0F48E88B3494B58BB6E00802003B2FA"><enum>355.</enum><header>Inspector
general</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There shall be in the
Administration an inspector general. The inspector general and the office of
inspector general shall be subject to the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5
U.S.C. App.).</text>
</section></chapter><chapter id="H09338978EDEA437DBDA9053466EAB200"><enum>2</enum><header>OPERATION OF THE
FEDERAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATION</header>
<section id="HA610261B63C7442DADED74DCF8E8E4C4"><enum>361.</enum><header>Powers of the
Chair and Administration</header>
<subsection id="H04D8D023D43447A1A3BA486319CDA0DC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Chair</header>
<paragraph id="HBA1F64BA3CC543F8846D4C7549A47DE0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Chair shall be the chief administrative officer of
the Administration with the authority to administer the Administration and
shall, after consultation with the other 2 members of the Administration, have
the power to appoint or remove the staff director and to establish the budget
of the Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H09AF8E4725C24485B57029BF52921BA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other
powers</header><text>The Chair has the power—</text>
<subparagraph id="H967D671977174967BD3B2CADA95B593"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to the fullest
extent practicable, to request the assistance of other agencies and departments
of the United States, including the personnel and facilities of such agencies
and departments and the heads of such agencies and departments may make
available to the Chair such personnel, facilities, and other assistance, with
or without reimbursement;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2C168CFB3A414362A569E4E3115DD84D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to appoint,
assign, remove, and compensate administrative law judges in accordance with
title 5, United States Code;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD179FA49A56C4356AB602D00A8E33851"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to require, by
special or general orders, any person to submit, under oath, such written
reports and answers to questions as the Chair may prescribe;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD1C5E7125067439F87801194B557EB92"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to administer
oaths or affirmations;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3D274BE3161B4BAFB5B8F22353F91CFD"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to issue and
enforce subpoenas in accordance with section 364;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4901B5047D5D463AAC8DB85D66BD881F"><enum>(F)</enum><text>in any proceeding
or investigation, to order testimony to be taken by deposition before any
person who is designated by the Chair and has the power to administer oaths
and, in such instances, to compel testimony and the production of evidence in
the same manner as authorized under subparagraph (E);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H081B82AA0DEB4F62AE99B15CF1D46EA5"><enum>(G)</enum><text>to pay witnesses
fees and mileage in accordance with section 364(d); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA409DCE27BD64EFD9DA76676EB1166E5"><enum>(H)</enum><text>to make
independent budget requests to Congress in accordance with section 362.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H948FE554B5FC4EFFB6FFDD32A8F05BB4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>The
Administration shall have the power—</text>
<paragraph id="HC009E854E7AF4A0AAE00F6A6DFA0001B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to initiate,
defend, or appeal, through the general counsel, any civil action in the name of
the Administration to enforce the provisions of this Act and chapters 95 and 96
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB4F64BD0122F4F7A8500F700A875ED9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to assess civil
penalties for violations of this Act and chapters 95 and 96 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5CC176ABB9DE407698FED6E0DB33A9F8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to issue
cease-and-desist orders to prevent violations of this Act and chapters 95 and
96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF9F5BD84806E40F000F2402578E30025"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to establish
procedures and schedules for agency adjudication that ensure timely enforcement
of this Act and chapters 95 and 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC61ABEBD2B1F44EE82BA337EB5430006"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to render advisory
opinions under section 363;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9D06415A707E4D44B7F0B30089B90301"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to develop
prescribed forms, and to make, amend, and repeal rules, pursuant to section
365;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE81A78BBF3D944F5B98458CA7432D775"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to establish
procedures for alternative dispute resolution of violations of this Act or of
chapters 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDE7454E6B51E4178BEB119E209005482"><enum>(8)</enum><text>to conduct
investigations and hearings expeditiously, to encourage voluntary compliance,
and to report apparent violations to the appropriate law enforcement
authorities; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8248C49783B341DC986BDF82F17973CA"><enum>(9)</enum><text>to transmit to the
President and to Congress not later than June 1 of each year, a report which
states in detail the activities of the Administration in carrying out its
duties under this Act, and which includes any recommendations for any
legislative or other action the Administration considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H30EAE885E1FD4231A6C4D0EEC7BAF538"><enum>362.</enum><header>Independent
budget requests and legislative proposals</header>
<subsection id="H3F112111F93249F3B1B38B7C51B0E378"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Exemption From
OMB Oversight</header><text>Whenever the Chair submits any budget estimate or
request to the President or the Office of Management and Budget, the Chair
shall concurrently transmit a copy of such estimate or request to
Congress.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0E4FE595C6DB42A0A6044300D5386032"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority To
Make Independent Legislative Recommendations</header><text>Whenever the
Administration submits any legislative recommendation, testimony, or comments
on legislation requested by Congress or by any Member of Congress, to the
President or the Office of Management and Budget, the Administration shall
concurrently transmit a copy thereof to Congress or to the Member requesting
the same. No officer or agency of the United States shall have any authority to
require the Administration to submit its legislative recommendations,
testimony, or comments on legislation, to any office or agency of the United
States for approval, comments, or review, prior to the submission of such
recommendations, testimony, or comments to Congress.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H85B1FF145F564FAF97DDB7275D2B0411"><enum>363.</enum><header>Advisory
opinions</header>
<subsection id="H5397E0B4CB4D40BCBCE3F6B55DF9ED11"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requests for
Advisory Opinions</header>
<paragraph id="H47720C2F2337470AB42D073B1B2D4F7D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the Administration receives
from a person a complete written request concerning the application of this
Act, chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or a rule or
regulation prescribed by the Administration, with respect to a specific
transaction or activity by the person, the Administration shall render a
written advisory opinion relating to such transaction or activity to the
person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H80E498A594724498AA16E938524984A2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requests by
candidates</header><text>If an advisory opinion is requested by a candidate, or
any authorized committee of such candidate, during the 60-day period before any
election for Federal office involving the requesting party, the Administration
shall render a written advisory opinion relating to such request not later than
20 days after the Administration receives a complete written request.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0A55BA09B7464B2192E73896BF7BE8F9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rulemaking
Required</header><text>Any rule of law which is not stated in this Act or in
chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 may be initially proposed
by the Administration only as a rule or regulation pursuant to procedures
established in section 365. No opinion of an advisory nature may be issued by
the Administration or any other officer or employee of the Administration
except in accordance with the provisions of this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H84897AD2DC814689A28497B6FBA9E2B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reliance on
Advisory Opinions</header>
<paragraph id="H0DE6D48C9FF44D67A820B9539320747B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any advisory opinion rendered by the Administration under
subsection (a) may be relied upon by—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF6EB2E5CA6D6426583C9E58C171F8818"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any person
involved in the specific transaction or activity with respect to which such
advisory opinion is rendered; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H01935E59E6EB4F1DA6A46F58A30283DB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any person
involved in any specific transaction or activity which is indistinguishable in
all its material aspects from the transaction or activity with respect to which
such advisory opinion is rendered.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC2EC44D689DC41D0A2FCF2E1B13B95D4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Protection from
liability</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, any person
who relies upon any provision or finding of an advisory opinion in accordance
with the provisions of paragraph (1) and who acts in good faith in accordance
with the provisions and findings of such advisory opinion shall not, as a
result of any such act, be subject to any sanction provided by this Act or by
chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1D1F3EA122C2436ABB8DF603003B2FCB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Publication of
Requests</header><text>The Administration shall make public any request made
under subsection (a) for an advisory opinion. Before rendering an advisory
opinion, the Administration shall accept written comments submitted by any
interested party within the 10-day period following the date on which the
request is made public.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H939ADBF9350C4D599E856E6604448528"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Judicial
Review</header>
<paragraph id="HC2955D2BEFAB45118DB1FAC752382692"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any person adversely affected by an advisory opinion
rendered by the Administration may obtain judicial review of such advisory
opinion by filing a petition in the United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCCC0683BD73E4A458ECFDFEBED7129AC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Scope of
review</header><text>For purposes of conducting the judicial review described
in paragraph (1), the provisions of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/706">section 706</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code,
shall apply.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H022D7100D9DC49DB98D79D3510F5A56B"><enum>364.</enum><header>Issuance and
enforcement of subpoenas</header>
<subsection id="H0E33C9CE9A154E6ABA00BD79168B2F2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Issuance by the
Chair</header><text>If the Administration is conducting an investigation
pursuant to section 371 or 372, the Chair shall, on behalf of the
Administration, have the power to require by subpoena the attendance and
testimony of witnesses and the production of all documentary evidence relating
to the execution of the Administration’s duties.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF738C87E8784490D9F444609EA84C5CA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Issuance by an
Administrative Law Judge</header><text>Any administrative law judge presiding
over an enforcement action pursuant to section 373 shall have the power to
require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the
production of all documentary evidence relating to the administrative law
judge’s duties.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD04B8F02E6B84CEE8513BFBF02A8EE20"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Issuance and
Enforcement of Subpoenas</header>
<paragraph id="HF3914022CCEA4437B6833C754039D4B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Issuance</header><text>Subpoenas
issued under subsection (a) or (b) shall bear the signature of the Chair or an
administrative law judge, respectively, and shall be served by any person or
class of persons designated by the Chair or administrative law judge for that
purpose.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H14C347AF0A2041AEBC7DDEDC513B24D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Enforcement</header><text>In
the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under subsection (a)
or (b), the Federal district court for the judicial district in which the
subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found may issue an order
requiring such person to appear at any designated place to testify or to
produce documentary or other evidence. Any failure to obey the order of the
court may be punished by the court as a contempt of that court.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H56899829E872489EB2FB87E6F2EA41AA"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Witness
Allowances and Fees</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/28/1821">Section 1821</external-xref> of title 28, United States Code,
shall apply to witnesses requested or subpoenaed to appear at any hearing of
the Administration. The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be
paid from funds available to pay the expenses of the Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA1D57445549F4D038BD0886458CD2600"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Jurisdiction</header><text>Subpoenas
for witnesses who are required to attend a Federal district court may run into
any other district.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H1E4037EF30124EA580D7A9280013CB90"><enum>365.</enum><header>Rulemaking
authority</header>
<subsection id="HCD352E9ABE37478AB053DF62645E8664"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The Administration may, pursuant to the provisions of
<external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, prescribe such rules and regulations
as the Administration deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
and chapters 95 and 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including the
authority to promulgate rules of practice and procedure for agency
adjudications.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H19BF3CF29DDA4E0AB801245876280000"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority To
Promulgate Independent Regulations</header><text>Whenever the Administration
promulgates any regulation, it shall not be required to submit such regulation
for review or approval to the President or the Office of Management and
Budget.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5DBABF6E877744E2A2EDBF98B4875143"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conduct of
Activities</header><text>The Administration shall prepare written rules for the
conduct of its activities, including procedures for the conduct of enforcement
actions under sections 371, 372, and 373.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H77274DDACDC94DD000D7B0F516C49860"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Forms</header>
<paragraph id="H9CFC2E11FE4148DBB0B7D2F6B7267D3E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Administration shall prescribe forms necessary to
implement this Act and chapters 95 and 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H40B1601C2E3B4F919202F861AA938FD9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Public
protection</header><text>Any forms prescribed by the Administration under
paragraph (1), and any information-gathering activities of the Administration
under this Act, shall not be subject to the provisions of section 3512 of title
44, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1216337F28474E138F131ECD7D281CF0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Reliance Upon
Rules and Regulations</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
any person who relies upon any rule or regulation prescribed by the
Administration in accordance with the provisions of this section and who acts
in good faith in accordance with such rule or regulation shall not, as a result
of such act, be subject to any sanction provided by this Act or by chapter 95
or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4F16E260945C40979833B6FF066748D4"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Consultation
With IRS</header><text>In prescribing rules, regulations, and forms under this
section, the Administration and the Secretary of the Treasury shall consult and
work together to promulgate rules, regulations, and forms which are mutually
consistent. The Administration shall report to Congress annually on the steps
it has taken to comply with this subsection.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H66AED12AFC9D47ED866400C85996F7D"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Judicial
Review</header>
<paragraph id="HD132A999984A4180B3683758895F16CB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any person adversely affected by a rule, regulation, or
form promulgated by the Administration may obtain judicial review of such rule,
regulation, or form by filing a petition in the United States Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia Circuit.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H83ACD742B095454D930444D3FA595997"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Scope of
review</header><text>For purposes of conducting the judicial review described
in paragraph (1), the provisions of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/706">section 706</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code,
shall apply.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H52E73B0B1A1C4FCFAE1B6BBF001F02AB"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Rule and
Regulation Defined</header><text>In this Act, the terms <term>rule</term> and
<term>regulation</term> mean a provision or series of interrelated provisions
stating a single, separable rule of law.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H802428D1C90B4E8F87E18BB2ADB616D2"><enum>366.</enum><header>Litigation
authority</header>
<subsection id="H02F05A4E8A8E4FA9AFDDC41659B2C621"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>Notwithstanding sections <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/28/516">516</external-xref> and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/28/518">518</external-xref> of title 28, United
States Code, and <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/3106">section 3106</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, the
Administration is authorized to bring, appear in, defend against, and appeal
any action instituted under this Act or chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, in any court either—</text>
<paragraph id="H62A2B7FA25F44CC99C3D31B7B72EF2BA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by attorneys
employed by the Administration; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8F21A70865ED47DD95F2268425DC6134"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by counsel whom it
may appoint, on a temporary basis as may be necessary for such purpose, without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments
in the competitive service, and whose compensation it may fix without regard to
the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such
title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF891EF255F884FE4ADBDB4B960CA809D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Compensation of
Appointed Counsel</header><text>The compensation of counsel appointed on a
temporary basis under subsection (a)(2) shall be paid out of any funds
otherwise available to pay the compensation of employees of the
Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H27C2781B26B54D9DAC00D34CCC6BFE7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Independence From
Attorney General</header><text>In pursuing an action under this section, the
Administration may act independently of the Attorney General.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H718B1D41D958476D8044CAEDB3476099"><enum>367.</enum><header>Availability of
reports</header>
<subsection id="H9A8D1E1DC4204F6990AC14F3002D1B56"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The Administration shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H0279393F0094408F8FEDE5B4DA08FC08"><enum>(1)</enum><text>prepare, publish,
and furnish to all persons required to file reports and statements under this
Act a manual recommending uniform methods of bookkeeping and reporting;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H00C1309B23C64AC1A3B51F3959790217"><enum>(2)</enum><text>develop a filing,
coding, and cross-indexing system consistent with the purposes of this
Act;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7E907C49917F4584B0B0AA5FB3AEFA3F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>within 48 hours
after the time of the receipt by the Administration of reports and statements
filed with the Administration, make them available for public inspection, and
copying, at the expense of the person requesting such copying, except that any
information copied from such reports or statements may not be sold or used by
any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions or for commercial
purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to
solicit contributions from such committee;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEB5EFF3794374ED9BBAB59DDA433354B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>keep such
designations, reports, and statements for a period of 10 years from the date of
receipt and maintain computerized records of such designations, reports, and
statements thereafter;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAC4BABCB4C1C465DB6B83550FD011747"><enum>(5)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H47BAD34E6E894858808C56A348243473"><enum>(A)</enum><text>compile and maintain a
cumulative index of designations, reports, and statements filed under this Act,
publish the index at regular intervals, and make the index available for
purchase directly or by mail;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3A504A26902C44598699F5000064D8A6" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>compile, maintain, and revise a
separate cumulative index of reports and statements filed by multicandidate
committees, including in such index a list of multicandidate committees;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEB263BCA1CBE4990A6BA7181372923B7" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>compile and maintain a list of
multicandidate committees, which shall be revised and made available
monthly;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8B9D54F84EE844B5B20671EE03E9EC00"><enum>(6)</enum><text>prepare and
publish periodically lists of authorized committees which fail to file reports
as required by this Act; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD32797584FBA4F51BA001D7C195705BF"><enum>(7)</enum><text>serve as a
national clearinghouse for the compilation of information and review of
procedures with respect to the administration of Federal elections.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC84FA239421F442EACDE06A71007E34"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Pseudonyms</header><text>For
purposes of subsection (a)(3), a political committee may submit 10 pseudonyms
on each report filed in order to protect against the illegal use of names and
addresses of contributors, but only if such committee attaches a list of such
pseudonyms to the appropriate report. The Administration shall exclude these
lists from the public record.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2403641141554097A44465CE46EA62E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contracts</header><text>The
Administration may enter into contracts for the purpose of performing the
duties described in subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8963E1A25D3F48AE9B37BE5D332BE65"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Availability of
Reports</header><text>Reports or other information described in subsection (a)
shall be available to the public, except that—</text>
<paragraph id="HFEE1EB93F24F442B9F3F072437E1BED8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>copies shall be
made available without cost, upon request, to agencies and branches of the
Federal Government; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8F5D710A3B5A4F9A00739D13DB74BEA7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>information made
available as a result of the application of paragraph (7) of such subsection
shall be made available to the public only upon the payment of the cost
thereof.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HA8446C21DCCD40F58E402B406D718028"><enum>368.</enum><header>Audits and
field examinations</header>
<subsection id="HCB1731FD27554BDA96F2953C88011FE0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The Administration may, in accordance with the provisions
of this section, conduct audits and field investigations of any political
committee required to file a report under section 304.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HBFBDFC1E84094085B082AA8FC3DAD883"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>All
audits and field investigations concerning the verification for, and receipt
and use of, any payments received by a candidate or committee under chapter 95
or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be given priority.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8F63C7018E46481592AF5B4D13F9327"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Audits and Field
Examinations Where Thresholds Not Met</header>
<paragraph id="HD45F1272D87D4ACBB640F7F24DDC583D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Internal
review</header><text>The Administration shall conduct an internal review of
reports filed by selected committees to determine if the reports filed by a
particular committee meet the threshold requirements for substantial compliance
with the Act. Such thresholds for compliance shall be established by the
Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEEDEA52F0690429E93F903011E7521CF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Audits and field
examinations</header><text>The Administration may vote to conduct an audit and
field investigation of any committee which it determines under paragraph (1)
does not meet the threshold requirements established by the Administration.
Such audits shall be commenced within 30 days of such vote, except that any
audit under the provisions of this subsection of an authorized committee of a
candidate shall be commenced within 6 months of the election for which such
committee is authorized.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H37F389591DC64C299910B12376D1C446"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Random
Audits</header>
<paragraph id="H15B8EE4A62014BC1BDBAE91EC83F4266"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In addition to any audits conducted under subsection (c),
the Administration may, subject to paragraph (2), conduct audits of any
committee selected at random to ensure compliance with this Act. The selection
of any committee under this paragraph shall be based on standards and
procedures adopted by the Administration, except that in any calendar year such
audits may be initiated against no more than 3 percent of all authorized
candidate campaign committees.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2DD597531AB84F13B064DA0200551C1E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicable
rules</header>
<subparagraph id="HF1AC879120384CA09F39D336E5B4769B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Administration selects a committee for audit under
paragraph (1), the Administration shall promptly notify the committee of the
selection and commence the audit within 30 days of the selection.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0D87EA44CCCF46848B4DA4C596F44F29"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Special rules
for authorized committees</header><text>If the committee selected under
paragraph (1) is an authorized committee of a candidate, the audit—</text>
<clause id="HD8EA5B43917B413BAF4C11C780D08701"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall be commenced
and actively undertaken within 6 months of the election for which the committee
is authorized; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H632FDFE89185478698DB7BD14F093FDD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may examine
compliance with this Act only with respect to that election.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0DF4C5E17EBC4261AD3400A22B37CF9C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>This
subsection shall not apply to an authorized committee of a candidate for
President or Vice President subject to audit under section 9007 or 9038 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H1705D6FA26B34C849E34E8656DD015BD"><enum>369.</enum><header>Congressional
oversight</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in this Act
shall be construed to limit, restrict, or diminish any investigatory,
informational, oversight, supervisory, or disciplinary authority or function of
Congress or any committee of Congress with respect to elections for Federal
office.</text>
</section></chapter><chapter id="H52D43D3BAD6A4A4189149419F2001B8E"><enum>3</enum><header>ENFORCEMENT</header>
<section id="HC6E0ACB1022844118165416F032B8E95"><enum>371.</enum><header>Initiation of
enforcement actions by Administration</header>
<subsection id="H51E04E8CEEF24B19973F99C5222F3D63"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The Administration may initiate a civil enforcement
action under section 373 if, after conducting an investigation, the
Administration finds reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of this Act
or of chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 has occurred or is
about to occur.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD43533A54F3E4FC7AE455161C36CEB4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Basis for
Findings</header><text>The Administration may make a finding under subsection
(a) based on any information available to the Administration, including the
filing of a complaint under section 372.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF2646C2309514449A4F189ADA7423902"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Notice and
Opportunity To Demonstrate No Violation</header><text>Prior to initiating an
enforcement action under subsection (a), the Administration shall give any
person under investigation notice and the opportunity to demonstrate that there
are no reasonable grounds to believe a violation has occurred or is about to
occur, but the Administration’s decision on such matter shall not be subject to
judicial review.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H9654D37EE2994C70BEF2135E77D3D9F8"><enum>372.</enum><header>Complaint to
initiate enforcement action</header>
<subsection id="HE8BA521D00494A9997F73FCC4FFD1FB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Filing of
Complaint</header>
<paragraph id="HEC43C137D5704F9F8EF4009DF75517F0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any person may file a complaint with the Administration
alleging a violation of this Act or of chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD5E01ABB56B84F179EF1E17261701F55"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Technical
requirements</header><text>A complaint filed under paragraph (1) shall
be—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9A8DE6E9887C4AD6BAE2D100EEDB0084"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in writing,
signed, and sworn to by the person filing such complaint;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD9E4397EC20A4E94965D92596421AC2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>notarized;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB259EFBA21D44840B3DF933469E4FA1E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>made under penalty
of perjury and subject to the provisions of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/1001">section 1001</external-xref> of title 18, United
States Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H687E2387F7014D2EBDDF7D4EB8194469"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Action by the
administration</header><text>Subject to paragraph (4), based on the allegations
in a complaint filed under paragraph (1), and such investigations the
Administration deems necessary and appropriate, the Administration may—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCB1F50EC6281414E993C122FC92C865"><enum>(A)</enum><text>initiate a civil
enforcement action under section 373 if the Administration finds reasonable
grounds to believe a violation has occurred or is about to occur; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFD4ADF978E0A4F0F836565074B45DE00"><enum>(B)</enum><text>dismiss the
complaint.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDCF7003B2DC841F3ACB7DA6813FA1428"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Prohibition of
anonymous complaints</header><text>The Commission may not conduct any
investigation or take any other action under this section solely on the basis
of a complaint of a person whose identity is not disclosed to the
Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBF3ACFA5970244BAABD104B7444BD3AE"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Recovery of
costs</header><text>Any person who has filed a complaint under paragraph (1)
shall be entitled to recover from the Administration up to $1,000 of the costs
incurred in preparing and filing the complaint if, based on the complaint, the
Administration—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC851076D757B4CBAA0BBB7120042E9F0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>makes a finding
under section 373(a) that a person has violated (or is about to violate) the
Act; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCE8A905C09ED4A23A2ABE514C120684F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>enters into a
conciliation agreement with a person under section 373(c).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H40BFCA4876484678A13C0389CE29C9D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notice and
Opportunity To Demonstrate No Violation</header><text>Prior to initiating an
enforcement action under subsection (a)(3)(A), the Administration shall give
any person named in a complaint notice and an opportunity to demonstrate that
there are no reasonable grounds to believe a violation described in such
subsection has occurred or is about to occur, but the Administration’s
determination under subsection (a)(3) shall not be subject to judicial review
in an action brought by such person.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HAC278038E24E41C7A7DE5FDBE7D3C1A5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Failure by the
Administration To Take Timely Action</header>
<paragraph id="H9F3F2C337B2B47E1803738A6C7375B65"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Administration—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF6058EBF77634B7EA9B1C018480057CD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>dismisses a
complaint filed under subsection (a); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEDD942CAD0D24EE300CA9576C55B6C1D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>fails to initiate
a civil enforcement action under section 373 within 180 days of the filing of
such a complaint, the person filing the complaint under subsection (a) may seek
judicial review of the Administration’s dismissal, or failure to act, in
Federal district court in the District of Columbia or in the district in which
such person resides.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5257A3B44594453DAFAF9C7CC4B8FBBA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Scope of
review</header><text>The court shall review the Administration’s dismissal of
the complaint or failure to act in accordance with the provisions of section
706 of title 5, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBB7BD1613FD14BEFA054CC52A9233FF6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Court
orders</header><text>The court may order the Administration to initiate an
enforcement action or to conduct a further investigation of the complaint
within a time set by the court.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H59DCE5638464492F9E3029050477965D"><enum>373.</enum><header>Civil
enforcement actions</header>
<subsection id="HFFD3DC7F2404416B911FC9D2ED5CFC15"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The Administration shall have the authority to impose a
civil monetary penalty under section 375, issue a cease-and-desist order under
section 376, or do both, if the Administration finds, by an order made on the
record after notice and an opportunity for hearing before an administrative law
judge pursuant to subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code,
that a person has violated (or, in the case of a cease-and-desist order, has
violated or is about to violate) this Act or chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986. The general counsel shall represent the Administration in
any proceeding before an administrative law judge.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H49A714C01899489D00E036B2E4C67B1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notice and
Request for Hearing</header>
<paragraph id="HC330B3BCF48E4E4AA1919B2D3D5FB51D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>If
the Administration finds under section 371 or 372 that there are reasonable
grounds to believe a violation has occurred or is about to occur, the
Administration shall serve written notice of the charges on each respondent,
and shall conduct such further investigation as the Administration deems
necessary and appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFE003795F0F64B689730DD6FC05690EB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Request for
hearing</header><text>Each respondent shall have an opportunity to request,
prior to the date that is 30 days after the date on which the notice is
received, a hearing on the charges before an administrative law judge.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4BA2417EA4D94D60A114AEE201244AB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effect of failure
to request a hearing</header><text>If no hearing is requested, the
Administration shall make a finding on the charges, and shall issue whatever
relief the Administration deems appropriate under sections 375 and 376.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6E37096FC14C4E049FEF4B136C810C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conciliation</header>
<paragraph id="HE2B3D0896D954F1FA600C54F38016B45"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Procedures for
entering into conciliation agreements</header>
<subparagraph id="H1437315A87594E88B2BB984EC68ECAB1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the respondent requests a hearing under subsection
(b)(2), the Administration shall attempt, for a period that does not exceed 60
days (or 15 days if the hearing is requested within 60 days of an election), to
correct or prevent such violation by informal methods of conference,
conciliation, and persuasion, and to enter into a conciliation agreement with
the respondent. In the case of a hearing that is requested at a time other than
within 60 days of an election, the period for conciliation shall not be less
than 30 days unless an agreement is reached before then.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBC6E5607D4E04C709BC57C2875FFAB3C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusion of
civil monetary penalties</header><text>A conciliation agreement may include a
requirement that the person involved in such conciliation shall pay a civil
monetary penalty that does not exceed the amounts set forth in subsection (a)
of section 375 or, in the case of a knowing and willful violation, the amounts
set forth in subsection (b) of such section. The conciliation agreement may
also include the requirement that the person involved consent to the terms of a
cease-and-desist order, as provided in section 376.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAF900380BF1C4A51B29277F8720242A5"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Representation
by general counsel</header><text>The general counsel shall represent the
Administration in any negotiations for a conciliation agreement and any such
conciliation agreement shall be subject to the approval of the
Administration.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3AC10E06FF174804BBF89211FF73C4E1"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Bar to further
action</header><text>A conciliation agreement, unless violated, is a complete
bar to any further action by the Administration.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H62D779525D3F4BBEA918E1E07C941E3D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><text>No
action by the Administration or any other person, and no information derived in
connection with any conciliation attempt by the Administration may be made
public by the Administration, without the written consent of the respondent,
except that if a conciliation agreement is agreed upon and signed by the
Administration and the respondent, the Administration shall make such agreement
public.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2366A9BB93F94D8F889492548689D35D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Violation of
conciliation agreement</header><text>In any case in which a person has entered
into a conciliation agreement with the Administration under paragraph (1), the
Administration may institute a civil action for relief if the Administration
believes the person has violated any provision of such conciliation agreement.
Such civil action shall be brought in the Federal district court for the
district in which the respondent resides or has its principal place of
business, or for the District of Columbia. Such court shall have jurisdiction
to issue any relief appropriate under sections 375 and 376. For the
Administration to obtain relief in any such action, the Administration need
only establish that the person has violated, in whole or in part, any
requirement of such conciliation agreement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0268DA2687A949ECAB76D3EC295C313F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Hearing</header><text>At
the request of any respondent, a hearing on the charges served under subsection
(b)(1) shall be conducted before an administrative law judge, who shall make
such findings of fact and conclusions of law as the administrative law judge
deems appropriate. The administrative law judge shall also have the authority
to impose a civil monetary penalty on the respondent, issue a cease-and-desist
order, or both. The decision of the administrative law judge shall constitute
final agency action unless an appeal is taken under subsection (e).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2B352570F5A44D538520C1F96E20ED5C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Appeal to
Administration</header>
<paragraph id="H8B19201B228B448F93A0FC725136A4EF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Right to
appeal</header><text>The general counsel and each respondent shall each have a
right to appeal to the Administration from any final determination made by an
administrative law judge.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H249FFD64538243C28984709F447D0927"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Review of alj
determinations</header><text>In the event of an appeal under paragraph (1), the
Administration shall review the determination of the administrative law judge
to determine whether—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA702FEA11BF64ECA99F924EB0986BB04"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a finding of
material fact is not supported by substantial evidence;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A969B02A35C4EA0B232691B85142F4E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a conclusion of
law is erroneous;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H00A3C4BD6F654F078F3B731CC1544987"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the determination
of the administrative law judge is contrary to law or to the duly promulgated
rules or decisions of the Administration;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H23A2BA2E577F41B2A5A39BA29B8CEC79"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a prejudicial
error of procedure was committed; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3B3506DB37B54BCEA7E221BCE00100D1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the decision or
the relief ordered is otherwise arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of
discretion.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDB5FB036ADF84C249270E1AD21D57711"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Final agency
action</header><text>The decision of the Administration shall constitute final
agency action.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEF0D39699ADA40CCBAE324E73055F084"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Judicial
Review</header>
<paragraph id="H9454675CC89648A98BFE51CA7CF32F9E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any party aggrieved by a final agency action and who has
exhausted all administrative remedies, including requesting a hearing before an
administrative law judge and appealing an adverse decision of an administrative
law judge to the Administration, may obtain judicial review of such action in
the United States Court of Appeals for any circuit wherein such person resides
or has its principal place of business, or in the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6F5CD8AAFC4A4DC79BDF7F93432744A2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Scope of
review</header><text>For purposes of conducting the judicial review described
in paragraph (1), the provisions of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/706">section 706</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code,
shall apply.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCEE0D95F6F8A4E6AB32D9D5368360746"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Petition for
judicial review</header><text>To obtain judicial review under paragraph (1), an
aggrieved party described in such paragraph shall file a petition with the
court during the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the order was
issued. A copy of such petition shall be transmitted forthwith by the clerk of
the court to the Administration, and thereupon the Administration shall file in
the court the record upon which the order complained of was entered, as
provided in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/28/2112">section 2112</external-xref> of title 28, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF31780F6D6424B55A64EF665A7220062"><enum>374.</enum><header>Notification of
nonfilers</header>
<subsection id="H1486B7E5CE5B41A500A3E61189AC3803"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>Before
taking any action under section 373 against any person who has failed to file a
report required under section 304(a)(2)(A)(iii) for the calendar quarter
immediately preceding the election involved, or in accordance with section
304(a)(2)(A)(i), the Administration shall notify the person of such failure to
file the required reports.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6074FF1BEBE24E3CB23C00C5C985FD9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Opportunity for
Response</header><text>If a satisfactory response is not received within 4
business days after the date of notification, the Administration shall,
pursuant to section 367(a)(6), publish before the election the name of the
person and the report or reports such person has failed to file.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H1CA7AFC9A98B4D1EA4C0C4A07CA1EC56"><enum>375.</enum><header>Civil monetary
penalties</header>
<subsection id="H19BA7638764744EA00A5AAD0B4D3B499"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>Any person who violates this Act, or chapter 95 or 96 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, shall be liable to the United States for a
civil monetary penalty for each violation which does not exceed the greater of
$5,000 or an amount equal to any contribution or expenditure involved in such
violation. Such penalty shall be imposed by the Administration pursuant to
section 373.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6C18472CEEEF46FB8E0400DDDC5B131"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Knowing and
Willful Violations</header><text>Any person who commits a knowing and willful
violation of this Act, or of chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, shall be liable to the United States for a civil monetary penalty for
each violation which does not exceed the greater of $10,000 or an amount equal
to 200 percent of any contribution or expenditure involved in such violation
(or, in the case of a violation of section 320, which is not less than 300
percent of the amount involved in the violation and is not more than the
greater of $50,000 or 1,000 percent of the amount involved in the violation).
Such penalty shall be imposed by the Administration pursuant to section
373.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H47C3AAB5411240349076E04E7DDE5DE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Determination of
Civil Monetary Penalty</header><text>In determining the amount of a civil
monetary penalty under this section with respect to a violation described in
this section, the Administration or an administrative law judge shall take into
account the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation and,
with respect to the violator, any prior violation, the degree of culpability,
and such other matters as justice may require.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H27F79248E84F4CF68B6D7F9B57AC5CA1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Referral to
Attorney General</header>
<paragraph id="HAB1657A5496F474A8C125868A5D1D9B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Administration determines that a knowing and
willful violation of this Act which is subject to section 379, or a knowing and
willful violation of chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, has
occurred or is about to occur, the Administration may refer such apparent
violation to the Attorney General without regard to any limitations set forth
under section 373.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8FB31E1F76114A188846FC8E9E3C4F10"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reporting by the
attorney general</header><text>Whenever the Administration refers an apparent
violation to the Attorney General, the Attorney General shall report to the
Administration any action taken by the Attorney General regarding the apparent
violation. Each report shall be transmitted within 60 days after the date the
Administration refers an apparent violation, and every 30 days thereafter until
the final disposition of the apparent violation.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H13F6009E629E48409E6D1FD9A520213B"><enum>376.</enum><header>Cease-and-desist
orders</header>
<subsection id="HCB0F2547462E4B8F8F1F6C89D3553310"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>If the Administration finds, after notice and opportunity
for hearing under section 373, that any person is violating, has violated, or
is about to violate any provision of this Act, or chapter 95 or 96 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any rule or regulation thereunder, the
Administration may publish any findings and enter an order requiring such
person, or any other person that is, was, or would be a cause of the violation
due to an act or omission the person knew or should have known would contribute
to such violation, to cease and desist from committing or causing such
violation and any future violation of the same provision, rule, or regulation.
Such order may, in addition to requiring a person to cease and desist from
committing or causing a violation, require such person to comply (or to take
steps to effect compliance) with such provision, rule, or regulation, upon such
terms and conditions and within such time as the Administration may specify in
such order.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDC4DCC519D504FDA8DDB83A53CCF4FBF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Temporary
Order</header><text>Whenever the Administration determines that an alleged
violation or threatened violation specified in the notice initiating a civil
enforcement action under section 373, or the continuation thereof, is likely to
result in violation of this Act, or of chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, and substantial harm to the public interest, the Administration
may apply to the Federal district court for the district in which the
respondent resides or has its principal place of business, in which the alleged
or threatened violation occurred or is about to occur, or for the District of
Columbia, for a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction
requiring the respondent to cease and desist from the violation or threatened
violation and to take such action to prevent the violation or threatened
violation. The Administration may apply for such order without regard to any
limitation under section 373.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H11EAF6E1450C47E7A0781F4573E7D5F5"><enum>377.</enum><header>Collection</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">If any person fails to pay an assessment of
a civil penalty—</text>
<paragraph id="H9E0DDFACE7FE4A6CB6A8B643E43B76E3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>after the order
making the assessment has become a final order and such person has not timely
filed a petition for judicial review of the order in accordance with section
373(f)(3) or if the order of the Administration is upheld after judicial
review; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEEE08CCA573B4E1CB969A54FA4D0F29D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>after a court in
an action brought under section 373(c)(3) has entered a final judgment no
longer subject to appeal in favor of the Administration, the Attorney General
shall recover the amount assessed (plus interest at currently prevailing rates
from the date of the expiration of the 30-day period referred to in section
373(f)(3) or the date of such final judgment, as the case may be) in an action
brought in any appropriate district court of the United States. In such an
action, the validity, amount, and appropriateness of such penalty shall not be
subject to review.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HF7B1DE414001444292C9702536B65002"><enum>378.</enum><header>Confidentiality</header>
<subsection id="H1A298D7E894C4E6491C34E83193DE22"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prior to a
Finding of Reasonable Grounds</header><text>Any proceedings conducted by the
Administration prior to a finding that there are reasonable grounds to believe
a violation of the law has occurred or is about to occur, including any
investigation pursuant to section 371 or pursuant to a complaint filed under
section 372, shall be confidential and none of the Administration’s records
concerning the complaint shall be made public, except that the person filing a
complaint pursuant to section 372 is permitted to make such complaint
public.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC66C9D53253743DEB3008F656E8C16D8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>After a Finding
of Reasonable Grounds</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (d), if
the Administration makes a finding pursuant to section 371 or 372 that there
are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of law has occurred or is
about to occur—</text>
<paragraph id="HDE087EF518E74CF6AB99945C8F861000"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the finding of the
Administration as well as any complaint filed under section 372, any notice of
charges, and any answer or similar documents filed with the Administration
shall be made public; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H97423B3148D94B5D8E9FEDB4E604012B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>all proceedings
conducted before an administrative law judge under section 373, and all
documents used during such proceedings, shall be made public.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7ABD4B83F6244FF58D48B800F98BABC3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>After Dismissal
of a Complaint or Conclusion of Proceedings Following a Finding of Reasonable
Grounds</header><text>Subject to subsection (d), following the Administration’s
dismissal of a complaint filed under section 372 or the termination of
proceedings following a finding of reasonable grounds under section 371 or 372,
the Administration shall, not later than the date that is 30 days after such
dismissal or termination, make public—</text>
<paragraph id="H07C87EDC30A44DF1B2ABC374CD00AEBC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the complaint, any
notice of charges, and any answer or similar documents filed with the
Administration (unless such information has already been made public under
subsection (b)(1));</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD3CE1DC31E5A448EB2C67BAC483C1187"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any order setting
forth the Administration’s final action on the complaint;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6EEBBA8813B143C1AD68CEC700162484"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any findings made
by the Administration in relation to the action; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCA860117534C45A29CC3B1679C44923B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>all documentary
materials and testimony constituting the record on which the Administration
relied in taking its actions.</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">Subject
to subsection (d), the affirmative disclosure requirement of this subsection is
without prejudice to the right of any person to request and obtain records
relating to an investigation under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/552">section 552</external-xref> of title 5, United States
Code.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="HBC0CF6A7DD334E51B6C06E38A5D098B1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Confidentiality
of Records and Proceedings Otherwise Subject to Disclosure</header>
<paragraph id="H1D345DB4934F4062008C8419E3EC8400"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Administration shall issue regulations providing for
the protection of information the disclosure of which under subsection (b) or
(c) would impair any person’s constitutionally protected right of privacy,
freedom of speech, or freedom of association. The Administration shall also
issue regulations addressing the application of exemptions from disclosure
contained in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/552">section 552</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, to records comprising
the Administration’s investigative files. Such regulations shall consider the
need to protect any person’s constitutionally protected rights to privacy,
freedom of speech, and freedom of association, as well as the need to make
information about the Administration’s activities and decisions widely
accessible to the public.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4E4612DF3E0B4861AFA679270013C906"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Petition to
maintain confidentiality</header>
<subparagraph id="HEE15A43CA24145A69FFCC8F05330AD7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any person who would be adversely affected by any
disclosure of information about the person made pursuant to subsection (b) or
(c), or by the conduct in public of a hearing or other proceeding conducted
pursuant to section 373, shall have the right to petition the Administration to
maintain the confidentiality of such information or such proceeding on the
ground that such information falls within the scope of any exemption from
disclosure contained in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/552">section 552</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, or is
prohibited from disclosure under the Administration’s regulations, the
Constitution, or any other provision of law. Upon the receipt of such petition,
the Administration shall make a prompt determination whether the information
should be kept confidential, and shall withhold such information from
disclosure pending this determination. The Administration shall notify the
petitioner in writing of the determination.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5F2D28B16B414A0E96C5D2BDCFBDDC63"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The
Administration shall prescribe regulations governing the consideration of
petitions under this paragraph. Such regulations shall provide for public
notice of the pendancy of any petition filed under subparagraph (A) and the
right of any interested party to respond to or comment on such petition.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H451E4E54EA524CA988DB00B894142D16"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Penalties</header><text>Any
member or employee of the Administration, or any other person, who violates the
provisions of this section shall be fined not more than $2,000. Any such
member, employee, or other person who knowingly and willfully violates the
provisions of this section shall be fined not more than $5,000.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HCF53532DA2DB428BBE09C75317321674"><enum>379.</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header>
<subsection id="HE4348D757ACD468D8CAEA15041F12348"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Knowing and
Willful Violations</header><text>Any person who knowingly and willfully commits
a violation of any provision of this Act that involves the making, receiving,
or reporting of any contribution, donation, or expenditure—</text>
<paragraph id="HDEF32D576B54473B9349179E745F00CB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>aggregating
$25,000 or more during a calendar year shall be fined under title 18, United
States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2663CE9730B84F6D83083BE29E0042BD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>aggregating $2,000
or more (but less than $25,000) during a calendar year shall be fined under
such title, or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H24232D73A8534742828E7B8FA7C3D36F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contributions or
Expenditures by National Banks, Corporations, or Labor
Organizations</header><text>In the case of a knowing and willful violation of
section 316(b)(3), the penalties set forth in subsection (a) shall apply to
each violation involving an amount aggregating $250 or more during a calendar
year. Such a violation of section 316(b)(3) may incorporate a violation of
section 317(a), 320, or 321.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1BB71165FDEF4179A909C10031D6D62"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Fraudulent
Misrepresentation of Campaign Authority</header><text>In the case of a knowing
and willful violation of section 322, the penalties set forth in subsection (a)
shall apply without regard to whether the making, receiving, or reporting of a
contribution or expenditure of $1,000 or more is involved.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H209B35031952492EAE69F520021B0629"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Prohibition of
Contributions in Name of Another</header><text>Any person who knowingly and
willfully commits a violation of section 320 involving an amount aggregating
more than $10,000 during a calendar year shall be—</text>
<paragraph id="HEC721576F70147CAAC5B5589218BE0E9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>imprisoned for not
more than 2 years if the amount is less than $25,000 and subject to
imprisonment under subsection (a) if the amount is $25,000 or more;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H26F532ED62E048E89C603413A2C622D6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>fined not less
than 300 percent of the amount involved in the violation and not more than the
greater of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2167B75833FC46EEB2E489404E52AF92"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$50,000; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6C4BAC23386D494A9D5300CBDAF6924E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>1,000 percent of
the amount involved in the violation; or</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFAA3FA113B70465FAD00C69400B1FBA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>both imprisoned as
provided under paragraph (1) and fined as provided under paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBA03D3A6487D471BAD6CB154CEBA418"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Effect of
Conciliation Agreements</header>
<paragraph id="HA6A0A3EDE36C4AEB8841BD012EA8C400"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Evidence of lack
of knowledge and intent</header><text>In any criminal action brought for a
violation of any provision of this Act or of chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, any defendant may evidence their lack of knowledge or
intent to commit the alleged violation by introducing as evidence a
conciliation agreement entered into between the defendant and the
Administration under section 373(c)(1) which specifically deals with the act or
failure to act constituting such violation and which is still in effect.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1BD21F6BCC2E4EE1BAA315336E985F06"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consideration by
courts</header><text>In any criminal action brought for a violation of any
provision of this Act or of chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, the court before which such action is brought shall take into account, in
weighing the seriousness of the violation and in considering the
appropriateness of the penalty to be imposed if the defendant is found guilty,
whether—</text>
<subparagraph id="H54115C10EAE440BD8065526747C776AC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the specific act
or failure to act which constitutes the violation for which the action was
brought is the subject of a conciliation agreement entered into between the
defendant and the Administration under section 373(c)(1);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4788CFEB73F84EEDB9B6884170B834BE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the conciliation
agreement is in effect; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA39D8BF58FA642E6AD0696D5C355A909"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the defendant is,
with respect to the violation involved, in compliance with the conciliation
agreement.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H60127B342F854F86B3C4E507808B49DB"><enum>380.</enum><header>Period of
limitations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">No person shall be
prosecuted, tried, or punished for any violation of this Act, unless the
indictment is found or the information is instituted within 5 years after the
date of the violation.</text>
</section><section id="HA7EB3FB1649645F7A39D9C2FA77B5963"><enum>381.</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For each
fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Administration such
sums as may be necessary for the purpose of carrying out its functions under
this Act and under chapters 95 and 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.</text>
</section></chapter></subtitle><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H87AD1A5089A94C17972FBD027BBAAC7"><enum>102.</enum><header>Executive
schedule positions</header>
<subsection id="H6A71550E5702433F0039FE364066A38D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Executive
Schedule Level III Position</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5314">Section 5314</external-xref> of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H208A8EB4EB84484EADCC9C3895CE5773" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H20FE1CB0C65E4597A3C2E14FD5191374"><enum></enum><text>Chair, Federal
Election
Administration.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H6D8D6DF7963A40628CBD516E95EF11E3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Executive
Schedule Level IV Positions</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5315">Section 5315</external-xref> of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H8A9444F29B7B4077BC5121EFBA03E14D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HA28D08C4460645B8BEFCA728C9C58011"><enum></enum><text>Members (other
than the Chair), Federal Election Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H00A3146113F44FBC93115E457279BFC0"><enum></enum><text>Staff Director,
Federal Election Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFA6335792EB845ABB37F9905EBAD89EA"><enum></enum><text>Inspector
General, Federal Election
Administration.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HBB99E3BC7A8A424194C1BE94E6227B5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Executive
Schedule Level V Position</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5316">Section 5316</external-xref> of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H338E64938A1541D2BF223FB9F0E5E460" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HE53265DFA5914A8D892EDFB08DC64FEA"><enum></enum><text>General
Counsel, Federal Election
Administration.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H30628F7C4ABB440DA19B5F175FDDF102"><enum>103.</enum><header>GAO examination
of enforcement of campaign finance laws by the Department of Justice</header>
<subsection id="HAC8EF67134644C76A44C438B1729FDC2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Examination</header><text>The
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a thorough examination
of the enforcement of the criminal provisions of the
<act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971</act-name>
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/431">2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.</external-xref>) and chapters 95 and 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 by the Attorney General.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1A0B4C0CF5214F9294098801EB19EFA6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General shall submit to the Attorney General and Congress a report on the
examination conducted under subsection (a) together with recommendations on how
the Attorney General may improve the enforcement of the criminal provisions of
the <act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/431">2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.</external-xref>) and chapters 95 and 96 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, including recommendations on the resources that the
Attorney General would require to effectively enforce such criminal
provisions.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H61B601F301A3479EA3E7BA8E00D4D088"><enum>104.</enum><header>GAO study and
report on appropriate funding levels</header>
<subsection id="H26897A448C354E75B9EB7149A6D14D2E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an ongoing study on the
level of funding that constitutes an adequate level of resources for the
Federal Election Administration to competently execute the responsibilities
imposed on the Administration by this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8AB6D4F5A36A4E8486D04688D617D9FD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and once every 2
years thereafter, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget and Congress a report on the study conducted
under subsection (a) together with recommendations for such legislation and
administrative action as the Comptroller General determines to be
appropriate.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H22703459FE4F4F1787E400543B80C638"><enum>105.</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<subsection id="H54987ABAAAD84BD9BA31FD4576006100"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Independent
Agency</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/104">Section 104</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H24D615226B7F46B28B59E8278C8D551"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in
paragraph (1), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD8A54F6A059746868226D5D797ACB096"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H531CD34BCC104410B0E626EB65846573"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="HF2FF9C5220A344D78B6BFAF562002748" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9C6CA9CBA63A4050A420E9C4D20622F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Federal
Election
Administration.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA44971FF501A47810025EB45D2831C5E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coverage Under
Inspector General Act</header><text>Section 8G(a)(2) of the Inspector General
Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking <quote>Federal Election
Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Federal Election
Administration</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8FEE815BDCEA4AF5BCE49279A06E096D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Coverage of
Personnel Under Hatch Act</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/7323">Section 7323(b)</external-xref> of title 5, United
States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H9572220158714877AEEF28638C13AC32"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by striking <quote>Federal Election Commission</quote> and inserting
<quote>Federal Election Administration</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0A6D6E9D96FA4068BB75DAEF1525CA4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in
paragraph (2)(B)(i)(I), by striking <quote>Federal Election Commission</quote>
and inserting <quote>Federal Election Administration</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H54FF39CFC32045BBBF547611E03E2C83"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Exclusion From
Senior Executive Service</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/3132">Section 3132(a)(1)(C)</external-xref> of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by striking <quote>Federal Election Commission</quote>
and inserting <quote>Federal Election Administration</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6153158F74764200A8B764F00079962"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Subtitle
<enum-in-header>A</enum-in-header></header><text>Title III of the
<act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971</act-name>
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/431">2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by inserting before section 301 the
following:</text>
<quoted-block act-name="Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971" id="HD5DB2DF2A74840D0B8F5C77EA5D11DF9" style="OLC">
<subtitle id="H5769922A7AAE4EFCB6B960505DA21881"><enum>A</enum><header>General
Provisions</header>
</subtitle><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>TRANSITION
PROVISIONS</header>
<section id="H4DC30B3039994B08946EB0FDFAAC3450"><enum>201.</enum><header>Transfer of
functions of Federal Election Commission</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are transferred to the Federal
Election Administration established under section 351 of the
<act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971</act-name>
(as added by section 101) all functions that the Federal Election Commission
exercised before the date described in section 205(a).</text>
</section><section id="H03C486B639EA4D08AD006688FE1C67FE"><enum>202.</enum><header>Transfer of
property, records, and personnel</header>
<subsection id="H965EE171A25B49ABAD1579E5EBF73FC8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Property and
Records</header><text>The contracts, liabilities, records, property, and other
assets and interests of, or made available in connection with, the offices and
functions of the Federal Election Commission which are transferred by this
title are transferred to the Federal Election Administration.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2F3C354CF8484C6AA7D6A0C932B621B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Personnel</header><text>The
personnel employed in connection with the offices and functions of the Federal
Election Commission which are transferred by this title are transferred to the
Federal Election Administration.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H1E49F79FEC3D49DE893BBA61E1460099"><enum>203.</enum><header>Repeals</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The following provisions of the
<act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971</act-name>
are repealed:</text>
<paragraph id="H4FF158B62F3940119586D605477F6B72"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section 306 (2
U.S.C. 437c).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5A5DE672DF624D438D71C6ED31046DC4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 307 (2
U.S.C. 437d).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB7691F5B64EF4F3A9D3FA721A701EE4B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Section 308 (2
U.S.C. 437f).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H27CE2FC0A68E43EEB4FA39F120435FCC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Section 309 (2
U.S.C. 437g).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5A8FF82D8C034195B9A4BD5FC8F4AC1D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Section 310 (2
U.S.C. 437h).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H66ACECBED0724345A5BFDCE9989D05F8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Section 311 (2
U.S.C. 438).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H843AE5F0E7EE4376A5C58759CB28E8E6"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Section 314 (2
U.S.C. 439c).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8F2F537921EC49469BF7B6007D073760"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Section 406 (2
U.S.C. 455).</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H1139DDE8AE6142EE9FC66762D313C366"><enum>204.</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<subsection id="H5868D15C61E8461280A5339B24B53473"><enum>(a)</enum><text>Title III of the
<act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971</act-name>
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/431">2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H597BA65B49A3409F923E4D1293CF50BA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 301, by
striking paragraph (10) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H4F9EF7780F134D3CB61CF96D00CDECF3" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H49DE188AA1A945FBBE67E36DFF8EF97B" indent="up1"><enum>(10)</enum><text>The term <term>Administration</term>
means the Federal Election
Administration.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0534B0722FE148DB8E7105871D426816"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Federal Election Commission</quote> and inserting
<quote>Administration</quote> each place it appears; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H62494B782CE9450190A1CD40EB2B9200"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Administration</quote> each
place it appears.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4596F173F6634AF6AAF000044EC00097"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Section 3502(1)(B)
of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>Federal Election
Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Federal Election
Administration</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H72461176C5F049D197125F66E3CD96C8"><enum>(c)</enum><text>Section
207(j)(7)(B)(i) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking
<quote>the Federal Election Commission by a former officer or employee of the
Federal Election Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>the Federal Election
Administration by a former officer or employee of the Federal Election
Commission or the Federal Election Administration</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1DEF17EE10144B2089569E005413783C"><enum>(d)</enum><text>Section 103 of the
Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H27E6E53469704C3F8702D71DBD088E00"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (e),
by striking <quote>the Federal Election Commission</quote> and inserting
<quote>the Federal Election Administration</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAC09DE82EB48427B865E37D4D7017384"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (k),
by striking <quote>the Federal Election Commission</quote> and inserting
<quote>the Federal Election Administration</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB2BFB4CC0C91448C009DF2FB8938C3C5"><enum>(e)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HB54EB5C056EF4790BA38B5BA56C502FC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section 9002(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H420DD914A4F3482AAEDE84681264D5BA" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HF170B0B62DFA494AB70075BF809985BE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term
<term>Administration</term> means the Federal Election Administration
established under section 351 of the <act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal
Election Campaign Act of
1971</act-name>.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6F82C36D56EC44C1A895F25D4EB90075" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Chapter 95 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 is amended by striking <quote>Commission</quote> and inserting
<quote>Administration</quote> each place it appears.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9903614F89C44DE3B53F417D5E5BA89D"><enum>(f)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3ACB9FC661364AF1BB8EA1CFDE1DDE2F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section 9032(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H45E6BDAFB31D48CE9BDBB2C4D6348342" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HD4B0D95A43E8400288C0F6AFF7DD1929"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The term
<term>Administration</term> means the Federal Election Administration
established under section 351 of the <act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal
Election Campaign Act of
1971</act-name>.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HACE3CC0C08DB48D9A3251E4BDB05484" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 is amended by striking <quote>Commission</quote> and inserting
<quote>Administration</quote> each place it appears.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB84DF3B449824C8D93D3AD1F8C00A6A4"><enum>(g)</enum><text>Section 3(c) of
the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (42 U.S.C.
1973ee–1(c)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HF6B79E2D2A934718AB8543D1AEC278A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in
paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE8C9CDC1D6FB4C128F15D1C5F8A60036"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Federal Election Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Federal
Election Administration</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEA890C201FD24B81008405747F6400AA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Administration</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4D4B136DB9AC48C381450307D12F0415"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking <quote>Federal Election Commission</quote> and inserting
<quote>Federal Election Administration</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H39340B6C77584CD4835568A47FF56034"><enum>205.</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<subsection id="HD16D7D615A8E434D8415A34FBF187F6B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>This title and the amendments made by this title shall
take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA85B8B97E95B4FD390A0C713F087773E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Termination of
the Federal Election Commission</header><text>Notwithstanding any other
provision of, or amendment made by, this Act, the members of the Federal
Election Commission shall be removed from office on the date described in
subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section>