Brennan Center for Justice

Federal Election Commission v. Akins

Campaign Finance Reform

This case raised, but did not resolve, the question of when an organization can be deemed a “political committee"under the Federal Elections Campaign Act and thereby be subject to record-keeping and reporting requirements. In its amicus brief, the Center offered a pragmatic solution that would allow true issue advocacy groups to maintain the privacy of their contributors, while also ensuring the disclosure of monies collected and spent for the purpose of affecting elections. Akins also considered the circumstances under which individuals would have standing to sue the FEC. The Center argued for, and the Supreme Court adopted, a broad view of standing.