Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Restoring Control of Elections to Individuals

Title II: Strengthening Political Parties

Title III: Disclosure and Enforcement

Title IV: Worker Right to Know

Title V: General Provisions

Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1996 - Title I: Restoring Control of Elections to Individuals - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit a candidate for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress from accepting contributions from individuals other than local individuals residents which exceed the total amount of contributions accepted from local individual residents. Sets forth penalties for exceeding contribution limitations.

(Sec. 102) Decreases allowable contribution amounts for political action committees in Federal elections to the level allowed for individuals in any calendar year.

(Sec. 103) Modifies the limitations on contributions when a candidate spends or contributes amounts exceeding personal fund spending limitations. Requires the principal campaign committee of a House candidate to submit certain notifications of expenditures or contributions of such personal funds.

(Sec. 105) Prohibits a candidate for Federal office or an individual holding Federal office from establishing or controlling a political committee, other than a principal campaign committee.

(Sec. 106) Prohibits bundling of contributions to candidates for Federal office by political action committees.

(Sec. 107) Redefines the term independent expenditure.

(Sec. 108) Sets forth requirements for the use of payroll deductions for contributions.

Title II: Strengthening Political Parties - Modifies contribution limits with respect to contributions made by an individual to a political party or a political party committee. Limits contributions made by individuals to State political parties.

(Sec. 202) Allows political parties to offset funds carried over from previous elections.

(Sec. 203) Set forth limitations on the use of funds not subject to the limitations of the Act.

(Sec. 204) Permits national and State political party committees (including any subordinate committee of a State committee) to exclude from expenditure limits any amounts expended by the committee for communications with members unless the communication expressly advocates the election or defeat of a specific candidate for election to Federal office.

(Sec. 205) Excludes from the definition of contribution State or local political party committee payments for specified volunteer and grassroots activities. Requires that all State and local party committees allocate their expenses for mixed activities based on a specified ballot composition method.

Title III: Disclosure and Enforcement - Modifies political committee reporting requirements, including requiring: (1) certain reports to be made available within 24 hours; (2) making reports available on the Internet; (3) certain reporting by secondary campaign committees; (4) additional post election reporting; and (5) certain information on aggregate contributions.

(Sec. 302) Revises Federal Election Commission rules and procedures, including provisions concerning: (1) judicial interpretation standards; (2) requiring written responses to certain questions; (3) oral arguments before the commission; (4) publication of an index to advisory opinions; (5) treating commercial loans not as contributions; (6) abolishing the Ex-Officio membership of the Clerk of the House on the Commission; (7) granting the Commission the authority to waive reporting requirements, if consistent with the purposes of the Act; (8) solicitations by corporations or labor organizations; (9) protections against force and reprisals; (10) banning a candidate or political committee from accepting any cash contributions from any individual which, in the aggregate, exceed $100; and (11) partnership contributions.

Title IV: Worker Right to Know - Amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to limit the scope of allowable union security agreements to requiring employee payment of union dues or fees related only to collective bargaining, contract administration, or grievance adjustment necessary to performing the duties of exclusive representation.

(Sec. 404) Requires, under NLRA, employee consent in an annual signed written agreement before a union may accept that employee's payment of dues or fees for purposes beyond the scope of the union security agreement as limited by this Act. Requires such an agreement to include a ratio of the dues or fees related to the limited purposes and those related to other purposes.

Amends the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 to prohibit payroll deduction for union dues unrelated to the limited scope purposes, unless a written agreement authorizes such deduction.

(Sec. 405) Requires, under NLRA, employers to post notice of worker rights to organize and collectively bargain, as well as of the limited scope of any union security agreement.

(Sec. 406) Amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to require every labor union to attribute and report expenses by function classification in detail necessary to allow its members to determine whether such expenses were related to collective bargaining, contract administration, or grievance adjustment necessary to performing the duties of exclusive representation or were related to other purposes. Requires disclosure under such Act to employees required to pay any union dues or fees (under a union security agreement) as well as to union members. Directs the Secretary of Labor to prescribe related regulations.

Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) effective date; (2) severability; and (3) Supreme Court review of constitutional issues.