Campaign finance agencies in California
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In California, there are two primary agencies involved in statewide campaign finance regulation: the California Fair Political Practices Commission and the Political Reform Division of the Office of the California Secretary of State. The former adopts regulations pertaining to campaign finance disclosure and imposes penalties against individuals and committees that violate the law. The latter receives and processes campaign finance reports.[1][2]
California Fair Political Practices Commission
Authority
Established in 1974, the Fair Political Practices Commission regulates campaign financing and spending, financial conflicts of interest, and lobbyist registration and reporting. In addition, the commission is authorized to investigate alleged violations of the law. The commission can also penalize violators.[1]
Organization
The commission comprises five members. Two commissioners are appointed by the governor. One gubernatorial appointee serves as the commission chair; the other must belong to another political party. One commissioner each is appointed by the secretary of state, the attorney general, and the state controller. All commissioners serve single four-year terms. The chair of the commission serves full-time and receives a salary.[3]
California Secretary of State
- See also: California Secretary of State
Authority
The Political Reform Division of the Office of the California Secretary of State administers portions of the state's campaign finance law. In particular, the division oversees campaign finance reporting requirements for candidates and political committees.[2]
Electronic reporting system
Candidates and political committees that have raised or spent $25,000 or more are required to file disclosure reports electronically.[4] For more information about California's electronic filing system, see here.[5]
The Political Reform Division publishes a series of reports that "analyze the role of money in state political campaigns."[6] These reports can be accessed here.
Contact information
California Fair Political Practices Commission
- 1102 Q St., Suite 3050
- Sacramento, CA 95811
- Telephone: 916-322-5660
- Email: advice@fppc.ca.gov
Political Reform Division
- 1500 11th St., 5th Floor
- Sacramento, CA 95814
- Telephone: 916-657-2166
- Email: Contact form
Recent news
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See also
- Campaign finance requirements in California
- California Secretary of State
- California Attorney General
External links
- California Fair Political Practices Commission
- California Secretary of State, Political Reform Division
- Cal-Access
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 California Fair Political Practices Commission, "About the FPPC," accessed June 17, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 California Secretary of State, "Political Reform Division," accessed July 28, 2015
- ↑ California Fair Political Practices Commission, "Organization & Responsibilities," accessed June 17, 2025
- ↑ California Fair Political Practices Commission, "Where to File Campaign Statements and Reports - Candidates," accessed June 17, 2025
- ↑ California Secretary of State, " Campaign Finance," accessed June 17, 2025
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Historical Campaign Reports," accessed June 17, 2025
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