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United States · Bill · S

S. 1388 (108th)

Federal Election Administration Act of 2003

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

10 July 2003

Last action

10 July 2003 · Introduced

Status

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Sponsors

Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]

Subjects

Budget

Source updated

18 August 2025

Budget

Summary

Federal Election Administration Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to create a new independent establishment, the Federal Election Administration (FEA), replacing the Federal Election Commission (FEC), with enhanced authority to enforce Federal campaign finance laws, while leaving reporting and disclosure provisions largely the same. Gives the FEA exclusive jurisdiction with respect to the civil enforcement of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. Requires under this new system for the Administration to be composed of three members, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one of whom shall serve as the Chair of the Administration, while the two other members are prohibited from being affiliated with the same political party. Requires the Chair to be appointed for a term of ten years, while the two other members shall be appointed for a term of six years, with one of the initial members appointed for a term of three years. Imposes on members a general one-term limitation. Bars present and former FEC members and others from the regulated community as well as individuals employed in certain executive branch positions from serving as FEA members. Requires enforcement proceedings for violations of campaign finance laws to be conducted before administrative law judges. Allows any final determination made by an administrative law judge to be appealed to the FEA for final agency action, subject to judicial review. Includes under the enhanced authority of the FEA to enforce Federal campaign laws the authority to impose civil penalties, issue cease-and-desist orders, and to report apparent violations to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Allows the FEA to conduct audits and field examinations of campaign committees. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct: (1) an examination of the enforcement of Federal campaign finance laws by the Attorney General for a report to the Attorney General and Congress; and (2) an ongoing study on the level of funding that constitutes an adequate level of resources for the FEA to competently execute its responsibilities, for reports to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and Congress.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 10 July 2003

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 10 July 2003

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/11/2003 S9246-9247)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 10 July 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in Senate (text)

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 10 July 2003

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 10 July 2003

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 10 July 2003

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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