The House permits contributions of up to $5,000 for legal defense funds; the Senate limit is $10,000.

The provisions permit higher annual contributions to individual retirement and 401(k) accounts.

Nicaragua, unlike the United States, permits foreign contributions to political parties in national elections.

The law puts a $3,000 limit on individual contributions to all future city campaigns, but it also permits contributions of unlimited amounts for retiring old (pre-1988) debts.

Some states permit direct corporate or organizational political contributions; others do not.

It said it would alter its employee profit-sharing plan to permit annual contributions to the plan of previously unissued voting stock.

The 7-to-2 majority refused to create an exception permitting unlimited contributions by corporations organized for the purpose of ideological advocacy.

The new law permits contributions to a 401(k) of up to 20 percent of salary, up to a maximum of $7,000 a year.

Virginia, which permits unlimited contributions from both individuals and corporations, has been a popular site for political action committees connected to the 2000 Presidential aspirants.

Only the State Legislature has the power to change present election rules, which permit eyebrow-raising contributions of up to $50,000.