Federal Election Commission
Contents
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the U.S. independent regulatory agency responsible for enforcing campaign finance law. While it is not a statistical agency in the traditional sense, a core part of its mission is to collect and disclose campaign finance data, which it makes available to the public through a variety of programs and tools. These "statistical programs" are focused on making the data it collects on campaign contributions and expenditures accessible and useful for researchers, journalists, and the public.
Key statistical and data programs offered by the FEC:
1. Campaign Finance Data and Statistics
The FEC provides a vast amount of data from the disclosure reports that federal candidates, political committees, and other organizations are legally required to file. This data is available in several formats:
| • | Campaign Finance Statistics: The FEC publishes data tables that summarize campaign financial activity by election cycle, filer type (e.g., presidential candidates, congressional candidates, political parties, PACs), and time period. These summaries provide a broad overview of money in federal elections. |
| • | Detailed Filings and Reports: The FEC makes the actual disclosure reports filed by campaigns and committees available. These reports contain detailed information on receipts and disbursements, including the names of donors who have contributed more than $200, their addresses, employers, and job titles. |
| • | Bulk Data Downloads: For those who want to conduct their own analysis, the FEC provides its campaign finance data for download in various formats, including CSV files. This allows researchers to work with the raw data. |
2. OpenFEC API
The OpenFEC API is a key tool for developers and researchers. It allows users to programmatically access and query the FEC's campaign finance database. With an API key, users can:
| • | Search for information about candidates and committees. |
| • | Fetch financial data, including summaries and detailed reports. |
| • | Track reporting deadlines and election dates. |
| • | Integrate FEC data into their own applications and websites. |
3. Data Visualization and Search Tools
The FEC's website also provides interactive tools to help users explore and understand the data without needing to download and process it themselves. These tools include:
| • | Searchable Databases: Users can search for specific candidates, committees, or individual contributors. |
| • | Data Visualizations: The site often presents key statistics and trends through charts and graphs, making it easier to see how money flows in politics. |