Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA, 1971; amended by BCRA 2002)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (52 U.S.C. § 30101 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
FECA was enacted to regulate campaign finance, requiring disclosure of contributions and expenditures, setting limits on donations, and establishing enforcement mechanisms.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Earlier laws like the Tillman Act (1907) and the Federal Corrupt Practices Act (1925) attempted campaign finance reform but were weakly enforced. FECA created a comprehensive framework.