The Federal Election Campaign Act (located at 52 U.S.C. §30101) is a federal statute that puts limits on campaign contributions to candidates for President of the United States and Congress (the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate). It requires candidates to report all the money their campaigns receive and spend.

Most individuals can donate up to $2,800 per candidate, per election. This means a person can donate up to $2,800 to each of one or more candidates in a federal primary election and in a federal general election. This law also requires candidates in federal elections to report the payee and amount of each campaign expenditure. And a campaign may not accept more than $100 in cash from a particular source with respect to any campaign for nomination for or election to federal office.

Similarly, state laws place limits on campaign contributions and require candidates for elective office to report the contributions they receive and the expenditures they make while seeking public office. These laws are usually located in a state’s statutes—often in the elections code.

In Idaho, the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) applies to candidates for federal offices, such as President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives. Under FECA, individuals are generally allowed to contribute up to $2,800 per candidate, per election, meaning that the same donor can contribute up to $2,800 for a primary election and another $2,800 for a general election. Federal candidates must report all campaign contributions and expenditures, and cash contributions from a single source are capped at $100 per campaign. Idaho also has its own state laws governing campaign finance for state and local elections. These laws set limits on contributions to state candidates and require detailed reporting of campaign finances. The specifics of Idaho's campaign finance laws, including contribution limits and reporting requirements, are found in the state's statutes, particularly within the elections code. It's important for candidates and donors to comply with both federal and state regulations to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.