{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-1-1163.03","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 1-1163.03","heading":"Powers of Director of Campaign Finance.","body":"(a)\n(1)\nThe Director of Campaign Finance, under regulations approved by the Campaign Finance Board, shall have the power:\n(A)\nTo require any person to submit in writing reports and answers to questions as the Director of Campaign Finance may prescribe relating to the administration and enforcement of this subchapter; and the submission shall be made within such reasonable period and under oath, affirmation, or otherwise as the Director of Campaign Finance may determine;\n(B)\nTo require any person to submit through an electronic format or medium the reports required in this subchapter;\n(C)\nTo administer oaths and affirmations;\n(D)\nTo require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all documentary evidence relating to the execution of the Campaign Finance Board's duties;\n(E)\nIn any proceeding or investigation to order testimony to be taken by deposition before any person who is designated by the Director of Campaign Finance and has the power to administer oaths and affirmations and, in these instances, to compel testimony and the production of evidence in the same manner as authorized under subparagraph (D) of this paragraph;\n(F)\nTo pay witnesses the same fees and mileage as are paid in like circumstances in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; and\n(G)\nRepealed.\n(H)\nTo institute or conduct, on his or her own motion, an informal hearing on alleged violations of the reporting requirements contained in this subchapter. Where the Director of Campaign Finance, in his or her discretion, determines that a violation has occurred, the Director of Campaign Finance may issue an order to the offending party or parties to cease and desist the violations within the 5-day period immediately following the issuance of the order. Should the offending party or parties fail to comply with the order, the Director of Campaign Finance shall present evidence of the failure to the Campaign Finance Board. Following the presentation of evidence to the Campaign Finance Board by the Director of Campaign Finance, in an adversary proceeding and an open hearing, the Campaign Finance Board may refer the matter for prosecution in accordance with the provisions in § 1-1163.02(b) or may dismiss the action.\n(2)\nSubpoenas issued under this section shall be issued by the Director of Campaign Finance upon the approval of the Campaign Finance Board.\n\n(b)\nThe Superior Court of the District of Columbia may, upon petition by the Campaign Finance Board, in case of refusal to obey a subpoena or order of the Campaign Finance Board issued under subsection (a) of this section, issue an order requiring compliance; and any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as contempt.\n\n(c)\n(1)\nAll investigations of alleged violations of this subchapter shall be made by the Director of Campaign Finance in his or her discretion, in accordance with procedures of general applicability issued by the Director of Campaign Finance in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.\n(2)\nAll allegations of violations of this subchapter, which shall be presented to the Campaign Finance Board in writing, shall be transmitted to the Director of Campaign Finance without action by the Campaign Finance Board.\n(3)\nThe Director of Campaign Finance shall present evidence concerning the alleged violation to the Campaign Finance Board within a reasonable time, if he or she believes that sufficient evidence exists constituting an apparent violation.\n(4)\nFollowing the presentation of evidence to the Campaign Finance Board, in an adversary proceeding and an open hearing, the Campaign Finance Board may refer the matter for prosecution in accordance with the provisions of § 1-1163.02(b) or may dismiss the action. In no case may the Campaign Finance Board refer information concerning an alleged violation of this subchapter for prosecution without the presentation of evidence by the Director of Campaign Finance.\n(5)\nShould the Director of Campaign Finance fail to present a matter or advise the Campaign Finance Board that insufficient evidence exists to present a matter or that an additional period of time is needed to investigate the matter further, the Campaign Finance Board may order the Director of Campaign Finance to present the matter within 90 days after its receipt.","path":["Title 1. Government Organization.","Chapter 11A. Ethics and Government Accountability.","Subchapter III. Campaign Finance.","Part A. Office of Campaign Finance."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/1-1163.03","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"8a2b898ae0055cd25d45e39ef75ed1eaefbb1f8d52b2e0ec94178367831c4b8c","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-1-1163.02b","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-1-1163.04"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}