District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest Act
Public Law 93-376 · H.R. 15074 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Aug 14, 1974 · Government Operations and Politics
Sponsor: Rep. Charles Diggs (D-MI-13)
Cosponsors (6): Rep. Donald Fraser, Rep. Thomas Rees,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest Act - =Title I: Short Title, Definitions= - Defines the terms used in this Act.
=Title II: Financial Disclosures= - Provides that no expenditure shall be made for or on behalf of a political committee without the authorization of its chairman or treasurer, or their designated agents.
Sets forth procedures for the recording and handling of campaign contributions.
Requires each candidate to designate in writing one political committee as his principal campaign committee. Requires the principal campaign committee to receive from all other campaign committees of the candidate reports of all contributions made.
Requires each political committee and candidate making expenditures or receiving contributions to designate a bank in the District of Columbia as the campaign depository for that committee or candidate. Requires all contributions to be deposited in an account at such banks, and all expenditures to be made by check from such account.
Requires each political committee to file with the Director of Campaign Finance of the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics a statement of organization. Sets forth the elements of information to be included in such statement.
Requires each candidate, within 5 days of becoming a candidate or receiving a contribution or making a campaign expenditure, to file with the Director a registration statement.
Sets forth reporting requirements with respect to campaign contributions and expenditures.
=Title III: Director of Campaign Finance= - Establishes within the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics the Office of Director of Campaign Finance. Sets forth the powers and duties of the Director with respect to administration of this Act.
Establishes within the Government of the District of Columbia the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics Nominating Committee, having the function of nominating individuals for appointment as members of the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. Sets forth the membership composition of the Committee. Sets forth procedures for nominating and placing individuals on the Board.
Provides that on and after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board of Elections of the District of Columbia established under the District of Columbia Election Act shall be known as the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics and shall have the powers, duties and functions as provided in such Act.
=Title IV: Finance Limitations= - Sets forth limitations on political campaign contributions and expenditures.
=Title V: Lobbying= - Requires all lobbyists to register with the Director. Requires all lobbyists to keep a detailed and exact account of all contributions and expenditures. Sets forth penalties for violation of this Title.u
=Title VI: Conflict of Interest and Disclosure= - Prohibits any public official from using his official position or office to obtain financial gain for himself, any member of his household, or any business with which he or a member of his household is associated, other than that compensation provided by law.
Sets forth procedures to be followed by public officials when faced with making a decision or taking an action which might constitute a conflict of interest.
Requires all candidates for public office to file a statement of full financial disclosure with the Board.
=Title VII: Penalties and Enforcement Tax Credits, Use of Surplus Campaign Funds, Voters' Information Pamphlets, Study of 1974 Election and Report by Council, Effective Dates, Amendments to District of Columbia Election Act, and Authorization= - Sets forth penalties for violation of this Act.
Revises the District of Columbia Income and Franchise Tax Act of 1947 by allowing credits for campaign contributions.
Sets forth procedures for handling surplus campaign funds.
Requires the Council of the District of Columbia to study the operation and effect of the District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform Act and the District of Columbia Election Act on the 1974 elections and to recommend possible modifications to such Acts.
Sets forth effective dates for the Titles of this Act.
Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the District of Columbia Election Act.
Authorizes the use of funds appropriated under the District of Columbia Self-Government Reorganization Act to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
District of Columbia Committee · House · referred to, reported by
District of Columbia Committee · Senate · referred to, reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.
- Aug 14, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-376.
- Aug 6, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Aug 1, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Jul 25, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1225.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1225.
- Jul 8, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Jul 1, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jun 27, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jun 26, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate District of Columbia Committee
- Jun 11, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate District of Columbia Committee
- Jun 10, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #285 (314-17).House roll call 285
- Jun 4, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House District of Columbia Committee
- May 29, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House District of Columbia Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.