Issue
Regulation of Campaign Contributions
Election Parts
Criteria
- The state regulated foreign funding of candidates and parties but did not limit contributions by nationals living abroad
- Candidates could contribute to their own campaigns, subject to reasonable limitations
- Reasonable limitations were imposed on private contributions
- There was a balanced and transparent system for political party financing
- There were clear rules and regulations regarding the acceptable sources of financial donations
Summaries
- Public laws should prohibit only those forms of fundraising that have no connection to the party's raison d'etre.
- Rules concerning donations to political parties should apply, as appropriate, to other entities associated with political parties.
- States should consider introducing rules which define acceptable sources of donations to political parties and/or candidates.
- Within reasonable limitations, candidates should be able to contribute to their own campaigns.
- Measures taken by states to govern donations to parties should include rules to ensure the independence of the party.
- Low value donations may be excluded from the obligation to refuse anonymous donations.
- Measures taken by states to govern donations to parties should include rules to avoid conflicts of interest.
- Measures taken by states to govern donations to parties should include rules to avoid prejudice to the activities of the party.
- Cash donations should be prohibited.
- States should regulate funding by foreign donors, but should not limit contributions by nationals living abroad.
- Reasonable limitations may be placed on private funding contributions to level the playing field during campaign activities.
- Measures taken by states to govern donations to parties should include rules to ensure transparency of donations.
- Political parties and candidates should be partly financed through private means.
- States should regulate contributions by legal entities.
- Limits on private contributions may consist of a maximum threshold on the amount of money that may be accepted from a single source.
- Campaigning and spending by third parties may be regulated, in particular to ensure transparency and accountability.
- States should consider limiting or prohibiting donations from anonymous sources.
- Limits on private contributions may consist of a limit on the total sum of acceptable private donations.