ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As a U.S. taxpayer, you are asked to make this choice when you fill out your 1040 federal income tax return. Before you exercise that choice, you may have some questions:
This brochure provides some answers.
When you check "yes," three of your tax dollars are placed in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. During each of the last five years, approximately 33 million taxpayers have checked the "yes" box. Every four years, the federal government distributes dollars from the Fund (sometimes called public funds or federal funds) to qualified Presidential candidates and national party committees for use in the Presidential elections. Whatever money is left over at the end of the Presidential election remains in the fund and is used in the next election, four years later.
Presidential
Nominees in the General Election. The Republican and Democratic nominees
in the general election receive a fixed amount of checkoff dollars. Nominees
from other political parties may qualify for a smaller, proportionate amount
of checkoff funds if they receive over five percent of the vote.
Presidential Primary Candidates. Candidates in the Presidential primaries may receive checkoff dollars, in the form of matching funds. Contributions of up to $250 from individuals are matched dollar for dollar. PAC and party contributions are not matchable.
Party Nominating Conventions. The national parties receive checkoff funds to cover the costs of their national conventions held every four years to select their Presidential nominees.
Congress set up the checkoff in the early 1970's as an alternative way of funding Presidential elec tions. Candidates that choose to accept public funds can reduce their dependence on large contributions from individuals and groups. In the general election, the public funding system places the two major-party nominees on an equal financial footing in the campaign.
No. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) certifies the eligibility only of those candidates who meet the strict qualifications established by Congress.
No. A candidate may choose not to participate in the public funding program. In that case, the candi date is not bound by the expenditure limits.
Yes. Individuals and political committees may spend money to publicly express their support for or against candidates, provided there is no coordination with the candidate's campaign. Additionally, the law allows party committees to spend a limited amount on behalf of their Presidential nominees.
For the general election, the law provides a fixed amount indexed to inflation. In 1976, each major-party nominee received $21.8 million. By 1992, reflecting inflationary trends, that amount grew to $55.2 million.
In the Presidential primaries, the total amount paid to campaigns varies from year to year. In 1992, 11 primary candidates received a total of $42.7 million in matching funds. Most candidates ran as Republicans or Democrats; two third-party candidates also qualified for public funds.
Convention funding is a fixed amount indexed to inflation. In 1992, each major party received $10.6 million to conduct its Presidential nominating convention.
Candidates spend the checkoff dollars on campaign advertising, campaign staff, campaign travel, fundraising and other campaign expenses. They may not use the federal money for personal expenses or for any purpose not related to the campaign.
Yes.
At the end of every Presidential election, the FEC audits the campaigns
that receive public funds. Any unused funds or funds that were not spent
for campaign purposes must be returned to the U.S. Treasury. Since 1976,
approximately $8.7 million has been returned to the Treasury.
The FEC administers and enforces the public funding program. For example, the agency:
The IRS monitors the flow of checkoff dollars into the Fund, and the Treasury Department makes the actual payments to candidates and committees.
No. All of the checkoff money is used for funding Presidential elections.
Costs of administering the program are covered by the FEC's budget, appropriated each year by Congress.
If a shortfall occurred in the Presidential Fund, the Secretary of the Treasury would allocate the remain ing funds among the eligible candidates and committees. The law requires that priority be given first to party nominating conventions, then to general election nominees and last to primary election candidates. If there were insufficient funds for the primary election candidates, the Treasury would provide only partial matching funds.
Checking the "yes" box does not increase the amount of tax you owe, nor does it decrease any refund to which you are entitled.
In
establishing the checkoff program, Congress left the single most important
decision to you, the taxpayer. You decide whether you want three dollars
of your tax to be used for the Presidential funding program described in
this brochure. The choice is yours to voluntarily check yes or no.
The Fund is not a separate account but is actually part of the U.S. Treasury.
In order to qualify for matching funds, a candidate in the primary elections must first raise over $5,000 in each of 20 states (i.e., over $100,000), consisting of small contributions ($250 or less) from individuals.
This publication provides guidance on certain aspects of federal campaign finance law. This publication is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this publication create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission (Commission) or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions, and applicable court decisions. For further information, please contact: Federal Election Commission |
