What independent regulatory agency is responsible for overseeing campaign finances and advertisements during elections?

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency tasked with overseeing and enforcing federal campaign finance laws in the United States. This includes monitoring contributions and expenditures related to federal elections, ensuring transparency in campaign finance, and enforcing regulations that govern the financial aspects of political campaigns and advertisements. The FEC's primary role is to protect the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that campaigns adhere to established financial limits and reporting requirements.

The agency also regulates the disclosure of campaign finance information, making it publicly available to promote accountability among candidates and political committees. Its responsibilities are crucial in maintaining a fair and transparent electoral environment, particularly in relation to how campaigns are funded and how contributions are reported.

While other agencies like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deal with communications and broadcasting regulations, and the Election Assistance Commission focuses on administrative aspects of elections, it is the FEC that specifically monitors campaign finance, making it the correct answer in this context.