---
title: "Federal Election Commission — Definition & Meaning"
description: "The Federal Election Commission is an independent agency that enforces federal campaign finance law, crucial for regulating money in U.S. elections."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/federal-election-commission"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Federal Election Commission is an independent United States regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance law governing money in federal elections.
- Why is the FEC frequently described as structurally deadlocked?
- What did Buckley v. Valeo (1976) establish about the FEC?
- What is the statutory basis of the FEC?
- How did Citizens United change the FEC's enforcement landscape?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In Citizens United v. FEC (2010), the Supreme Court ruled against the FEC's enforcement of the corporate electioneering ban, enabling unlimited independent corporate spending and the rise of Super PACs.

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