The Federal Election Commission doesn't have enough members to rule on campaign violations and enforce election law as candidates gear up for the 2020 contest.

The agency - which serves as a watchdog for how presidential and congressional campaigns raise and spend money - will be one member short of a quorum with the resignation of Vice Chairman Matthew Petersen.

Petersen's exit - which was announced Monday and is scheduled to take place August 31 - effectively freezes the agency.

The resignation of FEC Commissioner Michale Petersen leaves the board without a quorum

Without a quorum, the FEC cannot hold board meetings, start audits, make new rules and fine campaigns for any violations

Without a quorum, the FEC cannot hold board meetings, start audits, make new rules and fine campaigns for any violations.

But chairwoman Ellen Weintraub maintains that the agency is still functioning.

'The United States' election cop is still on the 2020 campaign beat,' she said in a statement on Petersen's resignation.

She argued the FEC can still monitor campaigns, investigate reports of infractions, and make campaign finance information available.

She pointed out the campaign watchdog group can make recommendations on any complaints and 'only the commission's vote on that recommendation will be delayed.'

However, Weintraub also urged President Donald Trump to appoint new commissioners as soon as possible.

'Vice Chairman Petersen's resignation makes it imperative that the president speedily nominate new Commissioners and that the Senate move expeditiously to confirm them,' she said.

A quorum requires four commissioners and there will only be three left on the six-person board when Petersen leaves.

Commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Each commissioner serves a six-year term and, by law, no more than three members can be of the same political party - a rule that was supposed to ensure equality but often leads to inaction and gridlock.

President Trump nominated James Trainor, a Republican, to serve on the commission in late 2017 but Trainor has not been confirmed by the Senate.

Traditionally the president nominates a Republican and Democratic commissioner simultaneously for the Senate to vote on them together.

With the resignation of Petersen, a Republican, the White House could call for Trainor to be confirmed without a corresponding Democrat.

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is is unlikely to move a nominee forward unless that person has a counter part from the other party.

FEC chair Ellen Weintraub urged President Trump to nominate new commissioners as quickly as possible

The FEC board - seen here meeting in 2008 - is composed of six members; the departure of Michael Petersen (second from the right) leaves it with three members and it takes four to make a quorum

FEC commissioners act as a watchdog for campaign finance violations

The Senate leaders - in this case McConnell and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer - also typically get input into who the president nominates to the commission from their respective party.

With Petersen's exit, the commission is composed of one Democrat, one Republican and one Independent.

Petersen did not give a reason for his departure.

'Throughout my service, I have faithfully discharged my duty to enforce the law in a manner that respects free speech rights, while also fairly interpreting the relevant statutes and regulations and providing meaningful notice to those subject to FEC jurisdiction,' he wrote in his resignation letter.

'I am honored to have served the American people in this capacity and to have fulfilled the oath taken 11 years ago.'

Trump nominated Petersen to a federal judgeship in 2018 but he withdrew after he struggled to answer questions about the law during his confirmation hearing - a moment that went viral.

'I had hoped my nearly two decades of public service might carry more weight than my two worst minutes on television,' he wrote in withdrawing his nomination. 'However, I am no stranger to political realities.'

The FEC, meanwhile, is ranked as one of the least popular places to work in government, according to surveys from the Office of Personnel Management

Two commissioners - Democrat Ann Ravel and Republican Lee Goodman - both quit before their six-year terms expired.

Neither has been replaced.

As for the three remaining commissioners, all are serving beyond their expired six-year term as the law allows them to continue to serve.

Chairwoman Weintraub, who was nominated by former President George W. Bush to the agency, has served more than a decade past the end of her term.

Petersen, who was appointed to the board by Bush in 2008, also served beyond his term.