PART 109—COORDINATED AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES (52 U.S.C. 30101(17), 30116(a) AND (d), AND PUB. L. 107-155 SEC. 214(C)) Authority: 52 U.S.C. 30101(17), 30104(c), 30111(a)(8), 30116, 30120; Sec. 214(c), Pub. L. 107-155, 116 Stat. 81. Source: 68 FR 451, Jan. 3, 2003, unless otherwise noted. Subpart A—Scope and Definitions § 109.1 When will this part apply? This part applies to expenditures that are made independently from a candidate, an authorized committee, a political party committee, or their agents, and to those payments that are made in coordination with a candidate, an authorized committee, a political party committee, or their agents. The rules in this part explain how these types of payments must be reported and how they must be treated by candidates, authorized committees, and political party committees. In addition, subpart D of part 109 describes procedures and limits that apply only to payments, transfers, and assignments made by political party committees. § 109.2 [Reserved] § 109.3 Definitions. For the purposes of 11 CFR part 109 only, agent means any person who has actual authority, either express or implied, to engage in any of the following activities on behalf of the specified persons: (a) In the case of a national, State, district, or local committee of a political party, any one or more of the activities listed in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(5) of this section: (1) To request or suggest that a communication be created, produced, or distributed. (2) To make or authorize a communication that meets one or more of the content standards set forth in 11 CFR 109.21(c). (3) To create, produce, or distribute any communication at the request or suggestion of a candidate. (4) To be materially involved in decisions regarding: (i) The content of the communication; (ii) The intended audience for the communication; (iii) The means or mode of the communication; (iv) The specific media outlet used for the communication; (v) The timing or frequency of the communication; or, (vi) The size or prominence of a printed communication, or duration of a communication by means of broadcast, cable, or satellite. (5) To make or direct a communication that is created, produced, or distributed with the use of material or information derived from a substantial discussion about the communication with a candidate. (b) In the case of an individual who is a Federal candidate or an individual holding Federal office, any one or more of the activities listed in paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(6) of this section: (1) To request or suggest that a communication be created, produced, or distributed. (2) To make or authorize a communication that meets one or more of the content standards set forth in 11 CFR 109.21(c). (3) To request or suggest that any other person create, produce, or distribute any communication. (4) To be materially involved in decisions regarding: (i) The content of the communication; (ii) The intended audience for the communication; (iii) The means or mode of the communication; (iv) The specific media outlet used for the communication; (v) The timing or frequency of the communication; (vi) The size or prominence of a printed communication, or duration of a communication by means of broadcast, cable, or satellite. (5) To provide material or information to assist another person in the creation, production, or distribution of any communication. (6) To make or direct a communication that is created, produced, or distributed with the use of material or information derived from a substantial discussion about the communication with a different candidate. Subpart B—Independent Expenditures § 109.10 How do political committees and other persons report independent expenditures? (a) Political committees, including political party committees, must report independent expenditures under 11 CFR 104.4. (b) Every person that is not a political committee and that makes independent expenditures aggregating in excess of $250 with respect to a given election in a calendar year shall file a verified statement or report on FEC Form 5 in accordance with 11 CFR 104.4(e) containing the information required by paragraph (e) of this section. Every person filing a report or statement under this section shall do so in accordance with the quarterly reporting schedule specified in 11 CFR 104.5(a)(1)(i) and (ii) and shall file a report or statement for any quarterly period during which any such independent expenditures that aggregate in excess of $250 are made and in any quarterly reporting period thereafter in which additional independent expenditures are made. (c) For each election in which a person who is not a political committee makes independent expenditures, the person shall aggregate its independent expenditures made in each calendar year to determine its reporting obligation. When such a person makes independent expenditures aggregating $10,000 or more for an election in any calendar year, up to and including the 20th day before an election, the person must report the independent expenditures on FEC Form 5, or by signed statement if the person is not otherwise required to file electronically under 11 CFR 104.18. (See 11 CFR 104.4(f) for aggregation.) The person making the independent expenditures aggregating $10,000 or more must ensure that the Commission receives the report or statement by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard/Daylight Time on the second 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 $10,000 or more, the person making the independent expenditures must ensure that the Commission receives a new 48-hour report of the subsequent independent expenditures. Each 48-hour report must contain the information required by paragraph (e)(1) of this section. (d) Every person making, after the 20th day, but more than 24 hours before 12:01 a.m. of the day of an election, independent expenditures aggregating $1,000 or more with respect to a given election must report those independent expenditures and ensure that the Commission receives the report or signed statement 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 $1,000 or more, the person making the independent expenditures must ensure that the Commission receives a new 24-hour report of the subsequent independent expenditures. (See 11 CFR 104.4(f) for aggregation.) Such report or statement shall contain the information required by paragraph (e) of this section. (e) Content of verified reports and statements and verification of reports and statements. (1) Contents of verified reports and statement. (i) The reporting person's name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of his or her employer, if any; (ii) The identification (name and mailing address) of the person to whom the expenditure was made; (iii) The amount, date, and purpose of each expenditure; (iv) A statement that indicates whether such expenditure was in support of, or in opposition to a candidate, together with the candidate's name and office sought; if the expenditure meets the criteria set forth in 11 CFR 104.3(b)(3)(vii)(C), memo text must be used to indicate the states in which the communication is distributed, as prescribed in that section; (v) A verified certification under penalty of perjury as to whether such expenditure was made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of a candidate, a candidate's authorized committee, or their agents, or a political party committee or its agents; and (vi) [Reserved] Note to § 109.10( e On August 3, 2018, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia vacated 11 CFR 109.10(e)(1)(vi). CREW FEC, aff'd, (2) Verification of independent expenditure statements and reports. (i) For reports or statements filed on paper (e.g., by hand-delivery, U.S. Mail, or facsimile machine), the person who made the independent expenditure shall certify, under penalty of perjury, the independence of the expenditure by handwritten signature immediately following the certification required by paragraph (e)(1)(v) of this section. (ii) For reports or statements filed by electronic mail, the person who made the independent expenditure shall certify, under penalty of perjury, the independence of the expenditure by electronic signature immediately following the certification required by paragraph (e)(1)(v) of this section. [68 FR 451, Jan. 3, 2003, as amended at 81 FR 34863, June 1, 2016; 83 FR 66595, Dec. 27, 2018; 87 FR 35864, June 14, 2022; 89 FR 216, Jan. 2, 2024] § 109.11 When is a “non-authorization notice” (disclaimer) required? Whenever any person makes an independent expenditure for the purpose of financing communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, such person shall comply with the requirements of 11 CFR 110.11. Subpart C—Coordination § 109.20 What does “coordinated” mean? (a) Coordinated (b) Any expenditure that is coordinated within the meaning of paragraph (a) of this section, but that is not made for a coordinated communication under 11 CFR 109.21 or a party coordinated communication under 11 CFR 109.37, is either an in-kind contribution to, or a coordinated party expenditure with respect to, the candidate or political party committee with whom or with which it was coordinated and must be reported as an expenditure made by that candidate or political party committee, unless otherwise exempted under 11 CFR part 100, subparts C or E. [68 FR 451, Jan. 3, 2003, as amended at 71 FR 33208, June 8, 2006] § 109.21 What is a “coordinated communication”? (a) Definition. (1) Is paid for, in whole or in part, by a person other than that candidate, authorized committee, or political party committee; (2) Satisfies at least one of the content standards in paragraph (c) of this section; and (3) Satisfies at least one of the conduct standards in paragraph (d) of this section. (b) Treatment as an in-kind contribution and expenditure; Reporting General rule. (2) In-kind contributions resulting from conduct described in paragraphs (d)(4) or (d)(5) of this section. (3) Reporting of coordinated communications. (c) Content standards. (1) A communication that is an electioneering communication under 11 CFR 100.29. (2) A public communication, as defined in 11 CFR 100.26, that disseminates, distributes, or republishes, in whole or in part, campaign materials prepared by a candidate or the candidate's authorized committee, unless the dissemination, distribution, or republication is excepted under 11 CFR 109.23(b). For a communication that satisfies this content standard, see paragraph (d)(6) of this section. (3) A public communication, as defined in 11 CFR 100.26, that expressly advocates, as defined in 11 CFR 100.22, the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for Federal office. (4) A public communication, as defined in 11 CFR 100.26, that satisfies paragraph (c)(4)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section: (i) References to House and Senate candidates. (ii) References to Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. (iii) References to political parties. (A) When the public communication is coordinated with a candidate and it is publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated in that candidate's jurisdiction, the time period in paragraph (c)(4)(i) or (ii) of this section that would apply to a communication containing a reference to that candidate applies; (B) When the public communication is coordinated with a political party committee and it is publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated during the two-year election cycle ending on the date of a regularly scheduled non-Presidential general election, the time period in paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section applies; (C) When the public communication is coordinated with a political party committee and it is publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated during the two-year election cycle ending on the date of a Presidential general election, the time period in paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of this section applies. (iv) References to both political parties and clearly identified Federal candidates. (A) When the public communication is coordinated with a candidate and it is publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated in that candidate's jurisdiction, the time period in paragraph (c)(4)(i) or (ii) of this section that would apply to a communication containing a reference to that candidate applies; (B) When the public communication is coordinated with a political party committee and it is publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated in the clearly identified candidate's jurisdiction, the time period in paragraph (c)(4)(i) or (ii) of this section that would apply to a communication containing only a reference to that candidate applies; (C) When the public communication is coordinated with a political party committee and it is publicly distributed or otherwise publicly disseminated outside the clearly identified candidate's jurisdiction, the time period in paragraph (c)(4)(iii)(B) or (C) of this section that would apply to a communication containing only a reference to a political party applies. (5) A public communication, as defined in 11 CFR 100.26, that is the functional equivalent of express advocacy. For purposes of this section, a communication is the functional equivalent of express advocacy if it is susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a clearly identified Federal candidate. (d) Conduct standards. (1) Request or suggestion. (ii) The communication is created, produced, or distributed at the suggestion of a person paying for the communication and the candidate, authorized committee, or political party committee assents to the suggestion. (2) Material involvement. (i) The content of the communication; (ii) The intended audience for the communication; (iii) The means or mode of the communication; (iv) The specific media outlet used for the communication; (v) The timing or frequency of the communication; or (vi) The size or prominence of a printed communication, or duration of a communication by means of broadcast, cable, or satellite. (3) Substantial discussion. (4) Common vendor. (i) The person paying for the communication, or an agent of such person, contracts with or employs a commercial vendor, as defined in 11 CFR 116.1(c), to create, produce, or distribute the communication; (ii) That commercial vendor, including any owner, officer, or employee of the commercial vendor, has provided any of the following services to the candidate who is clearly identified in the communication, or the candidate's authorized committee, the candidate's opponent, the opponent's authorized committee, or a political party committee, during the previous 120 days: (A) Development of media strategy, including the selection or purchasing of advertising slots; (B) Selection of audiences; (C) Polling; (D) Fundraising; (E) Developing the content of a public communication; (F) Producing a public communication; (G) Identifying voters or developing voter lists, mailing lists, or donor lists; (H) Selecting personnel, contractors, or subcontractors; or (I) Consulting or otherwise providing political or media advice; and (iii) This paragraph, (d)(4)(iii), is not satisfied if the information material to the creation, production, or distribution of the communication used or conveyed by the commercial vendor was obtained from a publicly available source. That commercial vendor uses or conveys to the person paying for the communication: (A) Information about the campaign plans, projects, activities, or needs of the clearly identified candidate, the candidate's opponent, or a political party committee, and that information is material to the creation, production, or distribution of the communication; or (B) Information used previously by the commercial vendor in providing services to the candidate who is clearly identified in the communication, or the candidate's authorized committee, the candidate's opponent, the opponent's authorized committee, or a political party committee, and that information is material to the creation, production, or distribution of the communication. (5) Former employee or independent contractor. (i) The communication is paid for by a person, or by the employer of a person, who was an employee or independent contractor of the candidate who is clearly identified in the communication, or the candidate's authorized committee, the candidate's opponent, the opponent's authorized committee, or a political party committee, during the previous 120 days; and (ii) This paragraph, (d)(5)(ii), is not satisfied if the information material to the creation, production, or distribution of the communication used or conveyed by the former employee or independent contractor was obtained from a publicly available source. That former employee or independent contractor uses or conveys to the person paying for the communication: (A) Information about the campaign plans, projects, activities, or needs of the clearly identified candidate, the candidate's opponent, or a political party committee, and that information is material to the creation, production, or distribution of the communication; or (B) Information used by the former employee or independent contractor in providing services to the candidate who is clearly identified in the communication, or the candidate's authorized committee, the candidate's opponent, the opponent's authorized committee, or a political party committee, and that information is material to the creation, production, or distribution of the communication. (6) Dissemination, distribution, or republication of campaign material. (e) Agreement or formal collaboration. Agreement Formal collaboration (f) Safe harbor for responses to inquiries about legislative or policy issues. (g) Safe harbor for endorsements and solicitations by Federal candidates. (2) A public communication in which a candidate for Federal office solicits funds for another candidate for Federal or non-Federal office, a political committee, or organizations as permitted by 11 CFR 300.65, is not a coordinated communication with respect to the soliciting Federal candidate unless the public communication promotes, supports, attacks, or opposes the soliciting candidate or another candidate who seeks election to the same office as the soliciting candidate. (h) Safe harbor for establishment and use of a firewall. (1) The firewall must be designed and implemented to prohibit the flow of information between employees or consultants providing services for the person paying for the communication and those employees or consultants currently or previously providing services to the candidate who is clearly identified in the communication, or the candidate's authorized committee, the candidate's opponent, the opponent's authorized committee, or a political party committee; and (2) The firewall must be described in a written policy that is distributed to all relevant employees, consultants, and clients affected by the policy. (i) Safe harbor for commercial transactions. (1) The medium, timing, content, and geographic distribution of the public communication are consistent with public communications made prior to the candidacy; and (2) The public communication does not promote, support, attack, or oppose that candidate or another candidate who seeks the same office as that candidate. [68 FR 451, Jan. 3, 2003, as amended at 71 FR 33208, June 8, 2006; 75 FR 55961, Sept. 15, 2010] § 109.22 Who is prohibited from making coordinated communications? Any person who is otherwise prohibited from making contributions or expenditures under any part of the Act or Commission regulations is prohibited from paying for a coordinated communication. § 109.23 Dissemination, distribution, or republication of candidate campaign materials. (a) General rule. (b) Exceptions. (1) The campaign material is disseminated, distributed, or republished by the candidate or the candidate's authorized committee who prepared that material; (2) The campaign material is incorporated into a communication that advocates the defeat of the candidate or party that prepared the material; (3) The campaign material is disseminated, distributed, or republished in a news story, commentary, or editorial exempted under 11 CFR 100.73 or 11 CFR 100.132; (4) The campaign material used consists of a brief quote of materials that demonstrate a candidate's position as part of a person's expression of its own views; or (5) A national political party committee or a State or subordinate political party committee pays for such dissemination, distribution, or republication of campaign materials using coordinated party expenditure authority under 11 CFR 109.32. [68 FR 451, Jan. 3, 2003, as amended at 71 FR 33210, June 8, 2006] Subpart D—Special Provisions for Political Party Committees § 109.30 How are political party committees treated for purposes of coordinated and independent expenditures? Political party committees may make independent expenditures subject to the provisions in this subpart. See See [69 FR 63920, Nov. 3, 2004] § 109.31 [Reserved] § 109.32 What are the coordinated party expenditure limits? (a) Coordinated party expenditures in Presidential elections. (2) The coordinated party expenditures shall not exceed an amount equal to two cents multiplied by the voting age population of the United States. See 11 CFR 110.18. This limitation shall be increased in accordance with 11 CFR 110.17. (3) Any coordinated party expenditure under paragraph (a) of this section shall be in addition to— (i) Any expenditure by a national committee of a political party serving as the principal campaign committee of a candidate for President of the United States; and (ii) Any contribution by the national committee to the candidate permissible under 11 CFR 110.1 or 110.2. (4) Any coordinated party expenditures made by the national committee of a political party pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, or made by any other party committee under authority assigned by a national committee of a political party under 11 CFR 109.33, on behalf of that party's Presidential candidate shall not count against the candidate's expenditure limitations under 11 CFR 110.8. (b) Coordinated party expenditures in other Federal elections. (2) The coordinated party expenditures shall not exceed: (i) In the case of a candidate for election to the office of Senator, or of Representative from a State which is entitled to only one Representative, the greater of— (A) Two cents multiplied by the voting age population of the State (see 11 CFR 110.18); or (B) Twenty thousand dollars. (ii) In the case of a candidate for election to the office of Representative, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner in any other State, $10,000. (3) The limitations in paragraph (b)(2) of this section shall be increased in accordance with 11 CFR 110.17. (4) Any coordinated party expenditure under paragraph (b) of this section shall be in addition to any contribution by a political party committee to the candidate permissible under 11 CFR 110.1 or 110.2. § 109.33 May a political party committee assign its coordinated party expenditure authority to another political party committee? (a) Assignment. (b) Compliance. State committee (1) The State committee shall be responsible for insuring that the coordinated party expenditures of the entire party organization are within the coordinated party expenditure limits, including receiving reports from any subordinate committee of a State committee or district or local committee making coordinated party expenditures under 11 CFR 109.32, and filing consolidated reports showing all coordinated party expenditures in the State with the Commission; or (2) Any other method, submitted in advance and approved by the Commission, that permits control over coordinated party expenditures. (c) Recordkeeping. (2) A political party committee that is assigned authority to make coordinated party expenditures under this section must maintain the written assignment for at least three years in accordance with 11 CFR 104.14. [68 FR 451, Jan. 3, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 63920, Nov. 3, 2004] § 109.34 When may a political party committee make coordinated party expenditures? A political party committee authorized to make coordinated party expenditures may make such expenditures in connection with the general election campaign before or after its candidate has been nominated. All pre-nomination coordinated party expenditures shall be subject to the coordinated party expenditure limitations of this subpart, whether or not the candidate on whose behalf they are made receives the party's nomination. § 109.35 [Reserved] § 109.36 Are there circumstances under which a political party committee is prohibited from making independent expenditures? The national committee of a political party must not make independent expenditures in connection with the general election campaign of a candidate for President of the United States if the national committee of that political party is designated as the authorized committee of its Presidential candidate pursuant to 11 CFR 9002.1(c). § 109.37 What is a “party coordinated communication”? (a) Definition. (1) The communication is paid for by a political party committee or its agent. (2) The communication satisfies at least one of the content standards described in paragraphs (a)(2)(i) through (a)(2)(iii) of this section. (i) A public communication that disseminates, distributes, or republishes, in whole or in part, campaign materials prepared by a candidate, the candidate's authorized committee, or an agent of any of the foregoing, unless the dissemination, distribution, or republication is excepted under 11 CFR 109.23(b). For a communication that satisfies this content standard, see 11 CFR 109.21(d)(6). (ii) A public communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for Federal office. (iii) A public communication, as defined in 11 CFR 100.26, that satisfies paragraphs (a)(2)(iii)(A) or (B) of this section: (A) References to House and Senate candidates. (B) References to Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. (3) The communication satisfies at least one of the conduct standards in 11 CFR 109.21(d)(1) through (d)(6), subject to the provisions of 11 CFR 109.21(e), (g), and (h). A candidate's response to an inquiry about that candidate's positions on legislative or policy issues, but not including a discussion of campaign plans, projects, activities, or needs, does not satisfy any of the conduct standards in 11 CFR 109.21(d)(1) through (d)(6). Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the candidate with whom a party coordinated communication is coordinated does not receive or accept an in-kind contribution, and is not required to report an expenditure that results from conduct described in 11 CFR 109.21(d)(4) or (d)(5), unless the candidate, authorized committee, or an agent of any of the foregoing, engages in conduct described in 11 CFR 109.21(d)(1) through (d)(3). (b) Treatment of a party coordinated communication. (1) An in-kind contribution for the purpose of influencing a Federal election under 11 CFR 100.52(d) to the candidate with whom it was coordinated, which must be reported under 11 CFR part 104; or (2) A coordinated party expenditure pursuant to coordinated party expenditure authority under 11 CFR 109.32 in connection with the general election campaign of the candidate with whom it was coordinated, which must be reported under 11 CFR part 104. [68 FR 451, Jan. 3, 2003, as amended at 71 FR 33210, June 8, 2006]