PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Hearings held.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 10, 2012
Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2012 or DISCLOSE Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to redefine the term "independent expenditure" as an expenditure by a person that, when taken as a whole, expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidate's character, qualifications, or fitness for office.
Expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications.
Prescribes disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and certain other entities, including a political committee with an account established for the purpose of accepting donations or contributions that do not comply with the contribution limits or source prohibitions under FECA (but only with respect to such accounts).
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Repeals the prohibition against political contributions by individuals age 17 or younger.
People & committees
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] · D–RI
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Hearings held.
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S5072)
Upon reconsideration, cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 45. Record Vote Number: 180.
Senate roll call 180 · Individual votesMotion by Senator Reid to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the measure (Roll Call Vote No. 179) agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5071-5072; text: CR S5071)
Motion to proceed to consideration of the motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the measure (Roll Call Vote No. 179) agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S5051-5052, S5057-5064, S5065-5066, S5066-5071, S5071-5072)
Motion by Senator Reid to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the measure (Roll Call Vote No. 179) entered in Senate. (consideration: CR S5008; text: CR S5008)
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 179.
Senate roll call 179 · Individual votesMotion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4985, S4985-4988, S4988-4991, S4993-4994, S4995-4998, S4999-5003, S5007-5008, S5010-5023, S5025-5044)
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4942-4943; text: CR S4942)
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S4938-4943)
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4919-4932)
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 446.
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.3369 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.3369 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.3369 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.3369 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.