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994

75TH
1 st Session

SENATE

DOCUMENT
No. 11

CORRUPT PRACTICES AT
ELECTIONS

A COMPILATION OF THE LAWS RELATING

TO CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELEC-
TIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

PRESENTED BY MR. NYE

JANUARY 22, 1937.-Ordered to be printed

UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1937

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FOREWORD

The term "corrupt practices" in connection with elections has come to have something of a specialized or technical meaning, having reference to the use of money on a greater or smaller scale in political campaigns (apart from such direct and long-recognized offenses as bribery and allied offenses). It is in this sense that the expression is employed in the present compilation of the laws relating to corrupt practices at elections in the several States of the United States. The term in this compilation embraces the following particular matters: limitation of expenditures for campaign purposes; regulation of contributions and disbursements; requirement of the filing of statements regarding receipts and expenditures; proper designation of political literature; prohibition of contributions by corporations; and provisions for the enforcement of these several things. Reference to the particular judicatory provided with respect to the last-named matter is, in the interests of brevity, for the most part simply as a "designated court.'

University of Kentucky.

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HARRY BEST.

III

A COMPILATION OF THE LAWS RELATING TO CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

ALABAMA

(Code of Alabama, 1929, Cumulative Supplement, 1936, secs. 582-600, 673, 3733, 3937, 3946)

The law in this State refers in part to primary elections and in part to elections in general. It limits expenditures in political campaigns, regulates contributions and disbursements, requires the filing of statements regarding receipts and expenditures, regulates the publication of political matter, and prohibits contributions by corporations.

The amounts which may be expended by candidates, directly or indirectly, in primary or in general elections, are limited to the following sums: For the office of Governor or United States Senator, $10,000; for other State offices or the office of Representative in Congress, $2,500; for membership in the State senate, $300; for membership in the State house of representatives, $250; for offices in counties, cities, towns, or villages, in case the number of votes at the last preceding election for the office of Governor (or in the primary election for such office if the number of votes therein was greater) was not over 5,000, $1,000; and in case the number was not over 5,000, $10 per 100 in addition; for the office of Presidential elector, $100; for the office of delegate to a national convention, $50; for the office of chairman of State committee or national committeeman, $1,000; and for other party offices, $250. These sums are not to include the fees assessed upon candidates. The expenditure of greater sums than are allowed is a corrupt practice and disqualifies the offender for the office which he has sought (§ 586).

The purpose for which expenditures may be made are limited as follows:

585. Corrupt practice defined. Any person is guilty of a corrupt practice if he directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person or through any political committees, in connection with or in respect of any election, pays, lends, or contributes, or offers or promises to pay, lend, or contribute, any money or other valuable consideration for any other purposes than the following matters and services at their reasonable, bona-fide, and customary value: For his traveling expenses while campaigning; fee for qualifying; stenographic work; clerks at his campaign headquarters to address, prepare, and mail campaign literature; telegrams; telephoning; postage; freight; expressage; stationery; list of voters; office rent; newspaper advertising; preparation, printing, and publication of posters, lithographs, banners, notices, and literary material, reading matter, cards, and pamphlets; the compensation of agents to supervise and to prepare and distribute such articles and advertisements; the rent of halls in which to address the voters; the hire of bands or musicians; and the reasonable traveling expenses of his agents, clerks, and

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