Campaign Reform Act of 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Ban on Soft Money of Political Party Committees Title II: Independent Expenditures; Soft Money Title III: Enforcement Title IV: Miscellaneous Title V: Constitutionality; Effective Date; Regulations Campaign Reform Act of 1997 - Title I: Ban on Soft Money of Political Party Committees - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to prohibit a national committee of a political party (including specified related entities) from soliciting or receiving contributions or making expenditures not subject to FECA. Sets forth a limit on donations of anything of value made by a person to a national committee of a political party (including specified related entities) during the 24 months preceding a general election for Federal office. Requires a State, district, or local committee of a political party (including specified related entities) to make Federal election year expenditures (with exceptions) from funds subject to FECA. Prohibits a national, State, district, or local committee from soliciting or donating funds to a tax-exempt organization. Prohibits an incumbent or candidate for Federal office from soliciting or receiving funds not subject to FECA, or to solicit or receive funds for a non-Federal election in excess of certain limits or from prohibited sources (with exceptions for State or local candidates in compliance with State law). (Sec. 102) Establishes aggregate and separate individual contribution limits to State Party Grassroots Funds and all committees established by a State committee of a political party. Increases annual individual contribution limits. Sets forth State Party Grassroots Fund and reporting provisions. (Sec. 103) Eliminates the exception for building funds relating to the definition of the term "contribution." Authorizes the filing of State reports by State committees. Requires the reporting of all disbursements made by authorized committees. Revises requirements for the reporting of the names and addresses of persons to whom certain expenditures are made to meet candidate or committee operating expenses, to require the reporting of the election to which the operating expenditure relates. Title II: Independent Expenditures; Soft Money - Defines "express advocacy." (Sec. 202) Repeals independent expenditure reporting requirements and replaces them with separate reporting requirements for independent expenditures aggregating $1,000 or more and $10,000 or more. (Sec. 203)Requires certain persons other than a political party that make aggregate election activity disbursements exceeding $10,000 to file with the Federal Election Commission. Title III: Enforcement - Authorizes the Commission to: (1) prescribe regulations for computer and facsimile reporting; (2) conduct random post election audits to ensure voluntary FECA compliance; and (3) seek injunctions. (Sec. 304) Reduces the aggregate annual contribution reporting requirement. (Sec. 305) Increases the penalty for knowing and willful violations of FECA. (Sec. 306) Prohibits: (1) contributions by individuals not qualified to vote; and (2) false representations to solicit contributions. (Sec. 307) Extends the prohibition of the use of the candidate's name by a political committee (except in the case of a national, State, or local party committee) to the use of the name of any candidate in any activity on behalf of such committee in such a context as to suggest that the committee is an authorized committee of the candidate or that the use of the candidate's name has been authorized by the candidate. (Sec. 309) Sets forth expedited Commission procedures regarding violations of FECA. (Sec. 310) Revises provisions concerning the referral of a suspected violation to the Attorney General. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Increases the individual contribution limit from $1,000 to $2,000 and indexes such limit. (Sec. 402) Prohibits the personal use of campaign funds. (Sec. 403) Sets forth political advertising provisions for print and broadcast or cablecast communications. (Sec. 404) Prohibits franked mass mailings by a Member in his or her election year, unless such Member will not be a candidate for any Federal office. Title V: Constitutionality; Effective Date; Regulations - Sets forth provisions regarding severability, review of constitutional issues, effective date, and Commission regulations.