BUCKLEY v. VALEO
1
Per Curiam
mission
, and hence no substantial 'inhibitory
effect' operating upon" appellants. 171 U. S. App. D. C.,
at 216, 519 F. 2d, at 865. The $100 threshold was found
to be within the "reasonable latitude" given the legislature "as to where to draw the line." Ibid. We agree.
The $10 and $100 thresholds are indeed low. Contributors of relatively small amounts are likely to be
especially sensitive to recording or disclosure of their
political preferences. These strict requirements may
well discourage participation by some citizens in the
political process, a result that Congress hardly could
have intended. Indeed, there is little in the legislative
history to indicate that Congress focused carefully on the
appropriate level at which to require recording and disclosure. Rather, it seems merely to have adopted the
thresholds existing in similar disclosure laws since 1910.1'
But we cannot require Congress to establish that it has
chosen the highest reasonable threshold. The line is
necessarily a judgmental decision, best left in the context
of this complex legislation to congressional discretion.
We cannot say, on this bare record, that the limits designated are wholly without rationality.1 1'
We are mindful that disclosure serves informational
functions, as well as the prevention of corruption and
the enforcement of the contribution limitations. Congress is not required to set a threshold that is tailored
only to the latter goals. In addition, the enforcement
110 See supra, at 61-63.
11 "Looked at by itself without regard to the necessity behind it
the line or point seems arbitrary. It might as well or nearly as
well be a little more to one side or the other. But when it is seen
that a line or point there must be, and that there is no mathematical
or logical way of fixing it precisely, the decision of the legislature
must be accepted unless we can say that it is very wide of any
reasonable mark." Louisville Gas Co. v. Coleman, 277 U. S. 32, 41
(1928) (Holmes, J., dissenting).
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