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Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Chapter 4. 1 Campaign Manual 3 June 2024 Contribution Restrictions Although the Political Reform Act (“Act”) is primarily a disclosure law, there are several important restrictions and prohibitions on receiving contributions. This chapter reviews these restrictions and prohibitions, as well as some that are contained in laws other than the Act. Ballot measure committees should also consult Elections Code Section 18680 for information relating to permissible expenditures, Section 18650 for use of petition signatures, and Section 18320 for use of websites and other restrictions. For restrictions and prohibitions related to expenditures made with campaign funds. (See Chapter 5.) A Restrictions on Contributions Reporting the True Donor Failure to disclose the true source of a contribution is often referred to in media reports as campaign money laundering, which is a serious violation of the Act. Campaign reports are often the only means for...

Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Chapter 1. 1 Campaign Manual 4 June 2024 What is a General Purpose Committee? A general purpose recipient committee receives contributions to use for political purposes, such as making contributions or independent expenditures to support or oppose candidates and ballot measures, or making contributions to political parties and other state and local campaign committees. This chapter discusses the various types of general purpose recipient committees. The Political Reform Act (“Act”) requires campaign committees, including general purpose recipient committees, to disclose the sources of contributions received and identify how the contributions are spent. The reporting requirements in the Act apply to all state and local campaign committees. A federal committee must also comply with the Act’s reporting requirements when it makes contributions or independent expenditures in connection with California candidates and committees. The Fair Pol...

Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Appendix - 1 Campaign Manual 6 June 2024 Appendix About the Political Reform Act/How to Get Help The Political Reform Act of 1974 The Political Reform Act (the “Act”) was a voter-approved initiative on the 1974 primary election ballot. One of the major provisions of the Act requires the truthful and accurate disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures during elections. The Fair Political Practices Commission The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is the independent, nonpartisan state agency authorized to implement, interpret, and enforce the provisions of the Political Reform Act. A full-time chair appointed by the Governor, and four part-time commissioners, one each appointed by the Controller, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the Governor comprise the Commission. Each member serves a four-year term and no more than three members may be from the same political party. FPPC staff is composed of five div...

Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Chapter 6. 1 Campaign Manual 3 June 2024 Communications Ballot measure campaigns reach the voters through communications including television, radio and Internet advertising, mailers, billboards, precinct walking and flyers. The Political Reform Act (“Act”) requires reporting of most payments in connection with political communications and requires “paid for by” disclosures on ballot measure ads to inform voters who is paying for a communication. This chapter reviews common communications in a ballot measure campaign and how payments for the communications are required to be reported. The next chapter discusses the disclosure requirements that apply to ballot measure communications. A Payments for Ballot Measure Communications Most payments made by a committee primarily formed for a measure for communications will likely be direct expenditures or contributions to other committees. Ballot measure committees may also receive signific...

Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Introduction -1 Campaign Manual 2 August 2023 Introduction Introduction The purpose of California’s Political Reform Act (Act) is to ensure that disclosure of political payments is accurate, timely, and made in a transparent manner. Clear and accurate disclosure is essential for making voters aware of who is paying for political messages so they may evaluate the content and make informed decisions when voting. In California, the true source of a contribution must be disclosed. This manual sets out the campaign reporting requirements for: • Local candidates • Superior and Appellate Court judges and candidates for Superior and Appellate Court • Local candidate controlled committees • Committees primarily formed to support or oppose a local candidate(s) Since the Act was approved by California voters in 1974, there have been more than 200 amendments to the Act’s campaign disclosure provisions. This manual has been prepared to assist local...

Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Chapter 8.1 Campaign Manual 1 August 2023 chapter 8 Advertisement Disclosures This chapter describes the disclosures required by the Political Reform Act ("Act") on mass mailings and other advertisements made by candidate controlled committees and committees primarily formed to support or oppose a candidate. A disclosure is the portion of a political message that identifies the committee that paid for and authorized the communication. The basic disclosure for a communication made by a candidate's committee for their own election is “paid for by [committee name].” The disclosure ensures that the committee paying for the ad is identified. The Act does not regulate the truth or accuracy of political communications given that the First Amendment provides broad protection for political speech. Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Chapter 8.2 Campaign Manual 1 August 2023 A Which Communications Require an Ad Disclosure? Can...

Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Chapter 2. 1 Campaign Manual 7 June 2024 DRAFT chapter 2 NOTICE TO VOTERS Disclaimer Requirements The Act requires a slate mailer organization that sends a slate mailer, as defined in Chapter 1, to include specific disclaimers as part of the mailer. This chapter describes the information that must be provided in a slate mailer. A Notice to Voters A slate mailer organization that produces a slate mailer must include the following Notice to Voters at the top or bottom of the front side or surface of at least one insert contained in the slate mailer, or at the top or bottom of one side or surface of a postcard or other type of mailer: The notice must be printed in at least 8-point roman boldface type, which must be in a color or print that contrasts with the background. The notice also must be contained in a printed or drawn box which is set apart from any other printed matter. QUICK TIP: If a slate mailer organization receives a payment...

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Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Chapter 2. 1 Campaign Manual 3 June 2024 chapter 2 Finance Rules In any campaign, an accurate and organized record must be kept of all campaign receipts and expenditures. All individuals who handle receipts and make expenditures must be aware of and practice the recordkeeping procedures required by the Political Reform Act (“Act”) and FPPC regulations outlined in this manual. While others may be involved, the treasurer, ballot measure proponent, and principal officer(s), as listed on the committee’s Statement of Organization (Form 410), remain legally responsible for the accuracy of the records. A Campaign Bank Account Primarily formed and general purpose ballot measure committees should maintain a separate bank account. Pre-numbered and pre-printed checks with the committee’s name are useful in complying with the recordkeeping requirements discussed in this chapter. Ballot measure committees may not commingle campaign funds with any indi...

Fair Political Practices Commission advice@fppc.ca.gov Chapter 3.1 Campaign Manual 1 August 2023 chapter 3 Finances/Recordkeeping One of the fundamental purposes of the Political Reform Act ("Act"), an initiative passed by the voters, is to ensure that receipts and expenditures in election campaigns are truthfully and fully disclosed. In order to do so, an individual that chooses to act as a committee treasurer, assistant treasurer, or principal officer must know and practice the finance and recordkeeping requirements and responsibilities discussed in this chapter. A Committee Treasurer and Principal Officer Every committee must have a treasurer before the committee may accept contributions or make expenditures. An individual must be at a minimum 18 years of age to serve as a treasurer, assistant treasurer, responsible officer, or principal officer. In order to adequately perform the duties, the treasurer must understand the campaign finance laws and their responsibilities under the Act. The c...