INEFFECTIVE BY DESIGN: A CRITIQUE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM

Though ostensibly tasked with enforcing their respective nations' campaign finance laws, the Federal Election Commission ("FEC"), Australian Electoral Commission ("AEC"), and Electoral Commission ("EC") are woefully unable to meaningfully address the evolving nature of campaigns or enforce existing regulations in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, respectively. Attempts at enforcement are cut off at the knees by political infighting, half-hearted grants of independent authority, and a lack of institutional support. Conversely, the New York City Campaign Finance Board ("CFB") is recognized as an example of meaningful enforcement and relative political independence. By implementing changes that translate the CFB's municipally-successful structure to federal agencies, the FEC, AEC and EC could become more effective in the enforcement of existing laws and better at adapting to the changing face of elections.