Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 85.djvu/596

 566

PUBLIC LAW 92-178-DEC. 10, 1971

[85 STAT.

received 5 percent or more but less than 25 percent of the total number of popular votes received by all candidates for such office, such candidate and his running mate for the office of Vice President, upon compliance with the provisions of section 9003(a) and (c), shall be treated as eligible candidates entitled to payments under section 9006 in an amount computed as provided in subparagraph (A^ by taking into account all the popular votes received by such candidate for the office of President in the preceding presidential election. If eligible candidates of a minor party are entitled to payments under this subparagraph, such entitlement shall be reduced by the amount of the entitlement allowed under subparagraph (A). " (3) The eligible candidates of a minor party or a new party in a presidential election whose candidate for President in such election receives, as such candidate, 5 percent or more of the total number of popular votes cast for the office of President in such election shall be entitled to payments under section 9006 eqvial in the aggregate to an amount which bears the same ratio to the amount computed under paragraph (1) for a major party as the number of popular votes received by such candidate in such election bears to the average number of popular votes received in such election by the candidates for President of the major parties. In the case of eligible candidates entitled to payments under paragraph (2), the amount allowable under this paragraph shall be limited to the amount, if any, by which the entitlement under the preceding sentence exceeds the amount of the entitlement under paragraph (2)" (b) LIMITATIONS.—The aggregate payments to which the eligible candidates of a political party shall be entitled under subsections (a) (2) and (3) with respect to a presidential election shall not exceed an amount equal to the lower of— "(1) the amount of qualified campaign expenses incurred by such eligible candidates and their authorized committees, reduced by the amount of contributions to defray qualified campaign expenses received and expended or retained b}^ such eligible candidates and such committees, or " (2) the aggregate payments to which the eligible candidates of a major party are entitled under subsection (a)(1), reduced by the amount of contributions described in paragraph (1) of this subsection. '•(c) RESTRICTIONS.—The eligible candidates of a political party .shall be entitled to payments under subsection (a) only— "(1) to defray qualified campaign expenses incurred by such eligible candidates or their authorized committees, or "(2) to repay loans the proceeds of which were used to defray such qualified campaign expenses, or otherwise to restore funds (other than contributions to defray q^ualified campaign expenses received and expended by such candidates or such committees) used to defray such qualified campaign expenses. "SEC. 9005. CERTIFICATION BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL. " (a) INITIAL CERTIFICATIONS.—On the basis of the evidence, books, I'ccords, and information furnished by the eligible candidates of a political party and prior to examination and audit under section 9007, the Comptroller General shall certify from time to time to the Secretary for payment to such candidates under section 9006 the payments to which such candidates are entitled under section 9004. " (b) FINALITY or CERTIEICATIONS AND DETERMINATIONS.—Initial

certifications by the Comptroller General under subsection (a), and all determinations made by him under this chapter, shall be final and con-

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