FEC dysfunction means a free-for-all in the 2016 elections

Earlier this month, the Chair of the Federal Election Commission, Ann M. Ravel described the organization as “worse than dysfunctional”. Melissa M. Smith looks at this dysfunction as the 2016 presidential campaign unfolds. She argues that the FEC has been largely powerless to enforce campaign finance law in the wake of 2010’s Citizens United decision, and the powerful Super PACs which have followed it. In some cases the FEC is facing a five-year backlog for investigating complaints, and its current enforcement actions are relatively weak. With reform of the FEC unlikely before the 2016 election, the next 18-months are likely to be a campaign finance free for all.