A flurry of recent advisory opinions from the Department of Justice’s FARA unit raise new questions about how the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) might apply to the nonprofit community. Adding to the uncertainty, these opinions arrive just as momentum
Political Law Briefing
Developments in Federal and State Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics Laws
Political Law Briefing, published by Venable LLP, focuses on legal developments and regulatory issues related to political law and campaign finance. The blog covers topics such as federal and state campaign contribution limits, Federal Election Commission regulations, political advocacy and online communications, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) compliance, pay-to-play laws, and political giving strategies for high-net-worth individuals and family offices. It addresses the intersection of election law, lobbying, public affairs, and compliance risks for political actors, nonprofits, and contractors involved in government-related political activities. The blog provides updates on enforcement trends, legislative changes, and practical guidance for navigating complex political law requirements.
Latest from Political Law Briefing - Page 3
DC Pay-to-Play Law Back on Track
The District of Columbia’s pay-to-play law will go into effect on November 9, 2022. The law was originally scheduled to take effect on November 4, 2020, but was postponed because of a lack of funding.
The law prohibits businesses seeking…
FEC Cracks Down on Use of Contributor Data
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) recently announced a $16,000 civil penalty against a political campaign, to settle allegations that the campaign had inappropriately used FEC contributor data in an algorithm used to aid its fundraising. The settlement is the latest…
Federal Contractor Pays Record Fine For Illegal Contribution
A federal government contractor has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $125,000 for making prohibited contributions to super PACs. The penalty is the largest the Federal Election Commission has obtained for violating the ban on federal contractor contributions.
According…
U.S. Supreme Court Finds California Donor Disclosure Law Unconstitutional
On July 1, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the consolidated case Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta in favor of the nonprofit organizations that brought the suits, holding California’s donor disclosure law to be unconstitutional because it violates the First…
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on California Donor Disclosure Cases
On April 26, 2021, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the consolidated case Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta,1 which argues that California’s donor disclosure law is unconstitutional under the First Amendment because it will discourage donors from contributing due to…
New Nonprofit Filing Requirements in New York
Charitable and social welfare organizations that file annual financial reports with the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau now must file those reports—and potentially two other reports—with the New York Department of State. These requirements are a result of changes…
Nonprofits Weigh in on California Donor Disclosure Cases Before U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review two similar constitutional challenges to California’s law requiring that charitable organizations registered to fundraise in the state disclose the names and addresses of their major donors: Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Becerra (No.
Federal Election Commission Announces New Contribution Limits for 2021-2022 Cycle
Every two years, the FEC indexes certain contribution limits to inflation. New contribution limits for the 2021-2022 election cycle were announced on Tuesday.
Individuals may now give $2,900 per candidate, per election (with the primary and general elections considered separate…
Biden Requires Ethics Pledge from Executive Branch Appointees, While Trump Appointees Are Released from Theirs
The ethics rules that apply to presidential appointees have undergone significant changes this month, with wide-ranging implications for incoming Biden appointees and their former employers, as well as for outgoing Trump officials and their prospective employers.
President Biden issued an…