In a major decision today, the Supreme Court in NRSC v. FEC struck down longstanding limits on “coordinated party expenditures” that restricted the amounts political parties could spend in coordination with federal candidates. With this decision, national party committees and
Inside Political Law
Updates on developments in campaign finance, lobbying & government ethics law
Inside Political Law, published by Covington & Burling LLP, focuses on legal and regulatory issues related to political activities and campaign finance in the United States. The blog covers topics such as the formation and operation of super PACs, corporate and industry political contributions, compliance with election laws, investigations involving members of Congress and political staff, and enforcement actions related to nonprofit organizations and foreign agent registration. It provides guidance on navigating complex political law matters, including recent developments in federal and state regulations, enforcement trends, and strategic considerations for political consultants, corporations, and nonprofits engaged in political advocacy and campaign finance.
Latest from Inside Political Law - Page 2
New Restrictions on Defense Contractors Retaining Outside Consultants Will Take Effect This Month
In January 2025, Covington issued a client alert noting that the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) for Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2025, which sets annual spending and policy for the Pentagon, introduced new China-related prohibitions on defense contractors and their consultants.…
Covington Launches Election Year Toolkit
As the election season intensifies, companies face a rapidly evolving landscape of regulatory, compliance, and reputational considerations. With heightened scrutiny on political engagement, lobbying, campaign finance, and communications, organizations must be prepared to navigate complex and fast-moving legal requirements.
Drawing…
Today’s Press Release Could Be Tomorrow’s Subpoena: Bracing For the Possibility of Democratic Congressional Investigations
With fewer than 180 days until the midterm elections, Democratic Members of Congress are laying the groundwork for future congressional investigations in the event the party regains control of one or both chambers next year. Even as Democratic Members prepare…
Tax-Exempt Organizations: Treasury Announces IRS Plans to Revise Form 990
On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that the IRS plans to revise the Form 990 to improve transparency and provide clearer reporting on certain transactions of 501(c)(3) organizations, including government contracts, government grants, and fiscal…
The 6 Top Compliance Mistakes by Corporations in an Election Year
An election year brings ample opportunities for corporations to participate in the political process, and the current political environment can create enormous pressures to do so. But with these opportunities and pressures come legal risks and compliance burdens. Given the…
Don’t Forget Your California Major Donor Reports!
With redistricting, the “billionaire tax” and other ballot measures, and heated gubernatorial and other races, contributors are giving huge amounts of money this year in California state and local elections. California has a complex campaign finance system, and it can…
State FARA Laws Pose Unique Constitutional Challenges
By Alex Langton
In 2025, Texas, Nebraska, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma enacted state-level foreign agent registration and disclosure regimes that were loosely modeled on the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act. And in the first few months of 2026, several states — Alabama, Florida, Iowa,…
Covington Announces Political Law Survey (2026 Edition)
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of political laws for 2026.
Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate federal or state…
Covington Announces Pay-to-Play Survey (2026 Edition)
Covington is pleased to announce that it has revised and updated its comprehensive 50-state survey of pay-to-play laws for 2026.
Companies doing business with the federal government or state and local governments and companies operating in regulated industries are subject…