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NOTE: Under State law, all local political committees must file semi-annual reports of their contributions. Information on these contributions, including the names of contributors and recipients and the amounts and dates of their contributions, is available on the website of the Illinois State Board of Elections. Neither the City of Chicago nor its Board of Ethics maintains this information or requires its disclosure.
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RSSPolitical / Campaign Contribution Information
The following is an overview of the City's prohibitions and limitations regarding political contributions. The law on political contributions can be reviewed in the Campaign Financing Ordinance. For additional guidance call the Board of Ethics at 312.744.9660.
Anonymous Contributions Prohibited
No person shall make or offer to make an anonymous contribution to:
(a) any candidate for elected office of the government of the City;
(b) the candidate's committees; or
(c) any persons acting on behalf of either the candidate or the candidate's committees.
Pseudonymous Contributions Prohibited
No person shall make or offer to make any contribution other than in the name of the true donor to:
(a) any candidate for elected office of the government of the City;
(b) the candidate's committees; or
(c) any persons acting on behalf of either the candidate or the candidate's committees.
Limitation of Contributions to Candidates and Elected Officials
No lobbyist registered with the Board of Ethics, or person who has done business with the City within the preceding four reporting years, or person who is seeking to do business* with the City, shall contribute over $1,500 in a calendar year to:
(a) any candidate for City office during a single candidacy; or
(b) an elected official of the government of the City during any reporting year of the official's term; or
(c) any official or employee of the City who is seeking election to any other office.
Contributions to the candidate's authorized political committees are considered contributions to the candidate.
An entity and its subsidiaries, parent company or otherwise affiliated companies, and any of their employees, officers, directors and partners who make a political contribution for which they are reimbursed by the entity or its affiliates are considered a single person. However, nothing in this provision prohibits such an employee, officer, director or partner from making a political contribution that is not reimbursed by the person or entity with which he or she is affiliated, even if that person or entity has made the maximum contribution allowed under City Ordinance.
* For purposes of this limitation, "seeking to do business" means (1) taking any action within the past six months to obtain a contract or business from the City when, if such action were successful, it would result in the person's doing business with the City; and the contract or business sought has not been awarded to any person; and (2) any matter that was pending before the City Council or any City Council committee in the 6 months prior to the date of the contribution if that matter involved the award of loan funds, grant funds or bond proceeds, bond inducement ordinances, leases, land sales, zoning matters, the creation of tax increment financing districts, concession agreements or the establishment of a Class 6(b) Cook County property tax classification.
For more information on how the Board of Ethics interprets these provisions, see this advisory opinion:
Prohibited Contributions to Mayor Emanuel
No lobbyist, City employee or City appointee may make a contribution in any amount to the Mayor and his political fund raising committee.
Additional State Law Restrictions
Under revisions to the Illinois Election Code (see 10ILCS 5/ 9-8.5 et seq.), effective Jan. 1, 2011, and revised on January 1, 2013, all persons and entities are subject to limitations on contributions to candidates or elected officials of the City (or to their committees) during each election cycle. Link to more information.
