Enforcing federal campaign finance law

The legacy enforcement search system, the Enforcement Query System, has been retired. Search closed Matters Under Review, closed Alternative Dispute Resolution cases, closed Administrative Fine cases and final Audits from this page. For help accessing the FEC's public documents, contact the FEC's Public Records Office.

The FEC has exclusive jurisdiction over the civil enforcement of the federal campaign finance law.

By law, all enforcement cases must remain confidential until they’re closed. Closed enforcement cases can be accessed on this page and information about what documents are placed on the public record when cases are closed is available here.

Considering possible election law violations

Enforcement cases can come from audits, complaints, referrals or self-submissions:

• Audits: The agency’s monitoring process may detect potential violations through a review of a committee’s reports or through a Commission audit.
• Complaints: Potential violations may be brought to the Commission’s attention through the complaint process. This process enables anyone to file a sworn complaint alleging violations and explaining the basis for the allegations.
• Referrals: The referral process enables other government agencies to refer possible violations to the FEC.
• Self-submissions: Any person or entity who believes it has committed a violation may bring the matter sua sponte to the Commission’s attention.

Audits of political committees

Generally, the Commission audits a committee under two circumstances:

1. When a committee participates in publicly financed presidential campaigns, or
2. When it appears that a committee has not met substantial compliance for reporting.

Search audits

Complaints

Anyone can submit a complaint if they believe a violation of the law has occurred or is about to occur.

Programs for handling enforcement cases

Enforcement cases are primarily handled by the Office of General Counsel and are known as Matters Under Review (MURs).

Other programs designed to augment the Office of General Counsel's enforcement role include the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program and the Administrative Fine Program.

Matters Under Review (MURs)

Because the public has the right to know the outcome of any enforcement proceeding, redacted files are made available to the public when the Commission’s vote to close the file becomes effective, which is 30 days (or the next business day if the 30th day falls on a weekend or a holiday) after the Commission Secretary certifies the Commission’s vote to close the case file.