Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: The Mayor of San Bernardino City vetoed an effort to continue unlimited campaign contributions in municipal elections.  The measure, MC-1543 (see pp. 37-41), is designed to avoid a state-imposed limit of $4,700 per election that…

Latest Developments: The United States Department of Justice announced that a Glendale attorney pleaded guilty to “conspiring to make and conceal conduit and excessive campaign contributions during the U.S. presidential election in 2016 and thereafter.”  He was accused of making…

Latest Developments: A United Stated District Court in Missouri issued an injunction in Make Liberty Win v. Zigler.  The court enjoined the Missouri Ethics Commission from enforcing a requirement that committees file a statement of organization at least…

Latest Developments: The United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion in the case of CREW v. FEC, which struck down Federal Election Commission regulations and upheld the statutory requirement that contributors of $200 or more…

Latest Developments: The  United States District Court in Missoula, Montana, in Doctors for a Healthy Montana v. Fox, overturned Montana’s statute that requires that PACs use “a name or phrase: (i) that clearly identifies the economic or special…

Latest Developments: COVID-19 Update:  Government officials, agencies, and courts continue to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.  Each week we will add the latest information.  For more information about filing deadlines, contact our Political Reporting Unit.  Among…

Latest Developments: COVID-19 Update:  Government officials, agencies, and courts continue to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.  Each week we will add the latest information.  For more information about filing deadlines, contact our Political Reporting Unit.  Among…

Latest Developments: The North Dakota Ethics Commission is seeking an opinion from the state’s Attorney General concerning the extent of its authority over gifts.  The commission is in the process of adopting proposed gift rules.  The Bismarck Tribune reports…

Latest Developments: The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the indictment of the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, in addition to indicting a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization and four other individuals, including three lobbyists.   The announcement alleges…

Latest Developments: The Wisconsin Ethics Commission issued a formal opinion that lobbyists may make contributions to state candidates during contribution window regardless of whether or not the candidate appears on the ballot in the next election. COVID-19 Update:  Government…