Impact of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971

Abstract

The Federal Election Campaign Act Amend ments of 1974 superseded the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, but the 1971 act did achieve significant improve ments. While the April 7, 1972, effective date of the 1971 act impeded disclosure of some important information, the act as a whole did significantly improve campaign fund dis closure. Experience gained under the 1971 act also was help ful to the Congress in developing the 1974 amendments; to the new commission in planning its activities; and to scholars and administrators concerned with campaign finance. The 1971 act dealt with four areas of great significance in the 1974 act: (1) prompt and effective disclosure; (2) enforce ment of limitations; (3) maintenance of committee records; and (4) the "clearinghouse" provisions authorizing research in election administration. Among the significant Government Accounting Office (GAO) decisions in administering the legis lation were: (1) seeking ultimate compliance rather than prosecution in instances of technical or minor violations, (2) publicly disclosing referrals of significant violations to the attorney general, and (3) post-election auditing of political committee operations to obtain better compliance and to improve mutual understanding of campaign finance dis closure problems.