A bill to reform the financing of Federal elections.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I: Senate Election Spending Limits and Benefits
Title II: Reduction of Special Interest Influence
Subtitle A: Political Action Committees
Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of
Political Party Committees
Subtitle C: Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political
Parties
Subtitle D: Contributions
Subtitle E: Independent Expenditures
Title III: Enforcement
Title IV: Miscellaneous
Title V: Constitutionality; Effective Date; Regulations
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 1997 - Title I: Senate Election Spending Limits and Benefits - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to set forth Senate election spending limits and benefits. Entitles complying candidates to specified: (1) broadcast discounts and free time; and (2) postage reductions.
Directs the Federal Election Commission (Commission) to certify a candidate who has met the requirements of this title as eligible for benefits (under such title).
(Sec. 106) Sets forth Senate candidate reporting requirements, including: (1) specification of in-State residents' contributions; and (2) expenditure of (candidate) personal funds.
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) provide for preemption only in situations beyond a station's control; and (2) extend the license revocation provision for failure to provide cable access.
Title II: Reduction of Special Interest Influence - Subtitle A: Political Action Committees - Amends FECA to prohibit Federal election contributions by political action committees (as defined by this Act). States that if such ban is not in effect: (1) a committee's contributions to a candidate shall not exceed limits applicable to an individual; and (2) a candidate may not accept more than 20 percent of contributions from committee sources.
Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Party Committees - Amends FECA with respect to "soft money" to: (1) prohibit a national committee of a political party (including specified related entities) from soliciting or receiving contributions or making expenditures not subject to such Act; (2) require a State, district, or local committee of a political party to make Federal election year expenditures (with exceptions) from funds subject to such Act; (3) prohibit a national, State, district, or local committee from soliciting or donating funds to a tax-exempt organization; and (4) prohibit an incumbent or candidate for Federal office from soliciting or receiving funds not subject to such Act, or to solicit or receive funds for a non-Federal election in excess of certain limits or from prohibited sources (with exceptions for State or local candidates in compliance with State law).
(Sec. 212) Establishes aggregate and separate individual contribution limits to State Party Grassroots Funds and all committees established by a State committee of a political party. Increases annual individual contribution limits.
Sets forth State Party Grassroots Fund and reporting provisions.
Subtitle C: Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties - Amends FECA to require certain persons other than a political party that make aggregate election activity disbursements exceeding $10,000 to file with the Commission. Subtitle D: Contributions - Amends FECA to treat contributions: (1) made through an intermediary or conduit as having been made by the original contributor; and (2) delivered through a bundler as having been made by the bundler to the candidate as well as from the original contributor.
Subtitle E: Independent Expenditures - Amends FECA regarding independent expenditure reporting requirements.
Title III: Enforcement - Amends FECA to authorize the Commission to: (1) prescribe regulations for computer and facsimile reporting; (2) conduct random post election audits to ensure voluntary FECA compliance; and (3) seek injunctions.
(Sec. 304) Reduces the aggregate annual contribution reporting requirement.
(Sec. 305) Increases the penalty for knowing and willful violations of such Act.
(Sec. 306) Prohibits: (1) contributions by individuals not qualified to vote; and (2) false representations to solicit contributions.
(Sec. 309) Sets forth expedited Commission procedures regarding violations of such Act.
Title IV: Miscellaneous - Amends FECA to prohibit the personal use of campaign funds.
(Sec. 402) Sets forth political advertising provisions for print and broadcast or cablecast communications.
(Sec. 403) Prohibits franked mass mailings by a Member in his or her election year, unless such Member will not be a candidate for any Federal office.
(Sec. 404) Requires a committee of a political party, before making coordinated expenditures (as defined in this Act) in excess of $5000 for a Federal election, to certify to the Commission that it has not and will not make any independent expenditures (as defined in this Act) in connection with such campaign.
(Sec. 406) Defines "express advocacy."
Title V: Constitutionality; Effective Date; Regulations - Sets forth provisions regarding severability, review of constitutional issues, effective date, and Commission regulations.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 183.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S9994-10026, S10097-10100)
The bill was modified by Unanimous Consent.
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10103-10151)
Motion by Senator Lott to recommit to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with instructions made in Senate. (consideration: CR S10113)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10317)
Cloture motion on the Lott amendment (SP 1258) presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S10317)
Cloture motion on the bill as modified presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S10317)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10339-10420)
Second cloture motion on the bill as modified presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S10378)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10466-10467)
checking server…
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line
Cloture on the Lott amendment (SP 1258) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52-48. Record Vote No: 266. (consideration: CR S10466)
Third cloture motion on the bill as modified presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S10466)
Second cloture motion on the Lott amendment (SP 1258) presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S10466)
First cloture on the bill as modified not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53-47. Record Vote No: 267. (consideration: CR S10466-10467)
Roll Call #267 (Senate)Second cloture on the bill as modified not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52-47. Record Vote No: 270. (consideration: CR S10522)
Roll Call #270 (Senate)Third cloture on the bill as modified not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52-47. Record Vote No: 273. (consideration: CR S10731)
Roll Call #273 (Senate)Second cloture on the Lott amendment (SP1258) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51-48. Record Vote No: 274. (consideration: CR S10731-10732)
Roll Call #274 (Senate)Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 183.
Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights. Hearings held on S.J.Res. 16 and S.25 (without committee referral). Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 105-511.