[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 11, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2009]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 11CFR104.4]

[Page 108-110]
 
                       TITLE 11--FEDERAL ELECTIONS
 
                 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
 
PART 104_REPORTS BY POLITICAL COMMITTEES AND OTHER PERSONS 
(2 U.S.C. 434)--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 104.4  Independent expenditures by political committees
(2 U.S.C. 434(b), (d), and (g)).

    (a) Regularly scheduled reporting. Every political committee that 
makes independent expenditures must report all such independent 
expenditures on Schedule E in accordance with 11 CFR 104.3(b)(3)(vii). 
Every person that is not a political committee must report independent 
expenditures in accordance with paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section 
and 11 CFR 109.10.
    (b) Reports of independent expenditures made at any time up to and 
including the 20th day before an election--(1) Independent expenditures 
aggregating less than $10,000 in a calendar year. Political committees 
must report on Schedule E of FEC Form 3X at the time of their regular 
reports in accordance with 11 CFR 104.3, 104.5 and 104.9, all 
independent expenditures aggregating less than $10,000 with respect to a 
given election any time during the calendar year up to and including the 
20th day before an election.

[[Page 109]]

    (2) Independent expenditures aggregating $10,000 or more in a 
calendar year. Political committees must report on Schedule E of FEC 
Form 3X all independent expenditures aggregating $10,000 or more with 
respect to a given election any time during the calendar year up to and 
including the 20th day before an election. Political committees must 
ensure that the Commission receives these reports by 11:59 p.m. Eastern 
Standard/Daylight Time on the second day following the date on which a 
communication that constitutes an independent expenditure is publicly 
distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated. Each time subsequent 
independent expenditures relating to the same election aggregate an 
additional $10,000 or more, the political committee must ensure that the 
Commission receives a new 48-hour report of the subsequent independent 
expenditures by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard/Daylight Time on the second 
day following the date on which the communication is publicly 
distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated. (See paragraph (f) of 
this section for aggregation.) Each 48-hour report must contain the 
information required by 11 CFR 104.3(b)(3)(vii) indicating whether the 
independent expenditure is made in support of, or in opposition to, the 
candidate involved. In addition to other permissible means of filing, a 
political committee may file the 48-hour reports under this section by 
any of the means permissible under 11 CFR 100.19(d)(3).
    (c) Reports of independent expenditures made less than 20 days, but 
more than 24 hours before the day of an election. Political committees 
must ensure that the Commission receives reports of independent 
expenditures aggregating $1,000 or more with respect to a given 
election, after the 20th day, but more than 24 hours before 12:01 a.m. 
of the day of the election, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard/Daylight Time 
on the day following the date on which a communication is publicly 
distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated. Each time subsequent 
independent expenditures relating to the same election aggregate an 
additional $1,000 or more, the political committee must ensure that the 
Commission receives a new 24-hour report of the subsequent independent 
expenditures by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard/Daylight Time on the day 
following the date on which a communication that constitutes an 
independent expenditure is publicly distributed or otherwise publicly 
disseminated. (See paragraph (f) of this section for aggregation.) Each 
24-hour report shall contain the information required by 11 CFR 
104.3(b)(3)(vii) indicating whether the independent expenditure is made 
in support of, or in opposition to, the candidate involved. Political 
committees may file reports under this section by any of the means 
permissible under 11 CFR 100.19(d)(3).
    (d) Verification. Political committees must verify reports of 
independent expenditures filed under paragraph (b) or (c) of this 
section by one of the methods stated in paragraph (d)(1) or (2) of this 
section. Any report verified under either of these methods shall be 
treated for all purposes (including penalties for perjury) in the same 
manner as a document verified by signature.
    (1) For reports filed on paper (e.g., by hand-delivery, U.S. Mail or 
facsimile machine), the treasurer of the political committee that made 
the independent expenditure must certify, under penalty of perjury, the 
independence of the expenditure by handwritten signature immediately 
following the certification required by 11 CFR 104.3(b)(3)(vii).
    (2) For reports filed by electronic mail, the treasurer of the 
political committee that made the independent expenditure shall certify, 
under penalty of perjury, the independence of the expenditure by typing 
the treasurer's name immediately following the certification required by 
11 CFR 104.3(b)(3)(vii).
    (e) Where to file. Reports of independent expenditures under this 
section and 11 CFR 109.10(b) shall be filed as follows:
    (1) For independent expenditures in support of, or in opposition to, 
a candidate for President or Vice President: with the Commission and the 
Secretary of State for the State in which the expenditure is made.
    (2) For independent expenditures in support of, or in opposition to, 
a candidate for the Senate:

[[Page 110]]

    (i) For regularly scheduled reports, with the Secretary of the 
Senate and the Secretary of State for the State in which the candidate 
is seeking election; or
    (ii) For 24-hour and 48-hour reports, with the Commission and the 
Secretary of State for the State in which the candidate is seeking 
election.
    (3) For independent expenditures in support of, or in opposition to, 
a candidate for the House of Representatives: with the Commission and 
the Secretary of State for the State in which the candidate is seeking 
election.
    (4) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (e)(1), (2), and 
(3) of this section, political committees and other persons shall not be 
required to file reports of independent expenditures with the Secretary 
of State if that State has obtained a waiver under 11 CFR 108.1(b).
    (f) Aggregating independent expenditures for reporting purposes. For 
purposes of determining whether 24-hour and 48-hour reports must be 
filed in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section and 11 
CFR 109.10(c) and (d), aggregations of independent expenditures must be 
calculated as of the first date on which a communication that 
constitutes an independent expenditure is publicly distributed or 
otherwise publicly disseminated, and as of the date that any such 
communication with respect to the same election is subsequently publicly 
distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated. Every person must 
include in the aggregate total all disbursements during the calendar 
year for independent expenditures, and all enforceable contracts, either 
oral or written, obligating funds for disbursements during the calendar 
year for independent expenditures, where those independent expenditures 
are made with respect to the same election for Federal office.

[68 FR 417, Jan. 3, 2003]