Institute For Free Speech

FEC: An Agency Tasked with Regulating First Amendment Activity
January 1, 2018  •  By IFS Staff  •    •  

The Federal Election Commission is the independent agency charged with enforcing federal campaign finance law and enacting campaign finance regulations. The FEC was created after the Nixon Administration’s Justice Department pursued criminal campaign finance charges against the President’s critics. In light of that effort, Congress correctly rejected the idea of letting a future president effectively control a government agency tasked…

Giffords v. Federal Election Commission
August 6, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  ,

A district court granted Giffords permission to weaponize the Federal Election Campaign Act (“FECA”) into lawfare, authorizing it to sue its ideological nemesis, the ...

FEC lack of quorum is a problem Trump should solve
July 20, 2025   •  By David Keating   •  ,

The Federal Election Commission’s current inability to execute key duties benefits no one. But President Trump has the power to begin restoring the FEC to a ...

Is FEC deadlock good or not? To partisans, it depends on when you ask
June 12, 2025   •  By Brad Smith and David Keating   •  ,

Without quorum, the Commission cannot hold hearings, issue rules, or enforce campaign finance laws and regulations. But this temporary loss of a quorum is not ...

The FEC at 50: Protecting Free Speech from Campaign Finance Lawfare
June 4, 2025   •  By Peter Russo   •  ,

Some of the strongest proponents of political speech restrictions used the occasion of the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) 50th Anniversary as a platform to advance ...

From Backlog to Breakthrough: Allen Dickerson’s Legacy at the FEC
May 12, 2025   •  By Brad Smith and David Keating   •  ,

April 30 was former Chairman and Commissioner Allen Dickerson’s last day at the FEC.

Comments to the FEC on AOR 2025-06 (Campaign Legal Center)
April 11, 2025   •  By Brad Smith   •  ,

On April 11, 2025, the Institute for Free Speech filed comments to the Federal Election Commission on an advisory opinion request (AOR 2025-06), suggesting ...

FEC Leadership Positions Need Calendar Realignment—and a Fresh Start
March 25, 2025   •  By David Keating   •  ,

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) plans to elect a new Chair on Thursday. If it does, the new Chair should take office on May ...

Small-Dollar Donor Sues FEC over Disclosure Requirements
February 19, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , ,

Attorneys for the Institute for Free Speech file new suit to end disclosure of small donations made through online “conduits” like WinRed or ActBlue

McDonald v. Federal Election Commission
February 19, 2025   •  By IFS Staff   •  , ,

The suit challenges the constitutionality of federal campaign finance disclosure requirements for small-dollar donors who use online platforms to donate, arguing that such rules ...

Comments to the FEC on the Modification and Redaction of Contributor Information
February 13, 2025   •  By Brad Smith   •  , ,

On February 13, 2025, the Institute for Free Speech responded to a notice of proposed rulemaking and wrote comments to the Federal Election Commission supporting ...

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