A super PAC is an independent political committee that can raise and spend unlimited money to support or oppose candidates, but cannot coordinate with campaigns.
What it is
A super PAC (independent expenditure only committee) can raise and spend unlimited money to support or oppose candidates. It can’t donate to or coordinate with campaigns.
Origin
Created after 2010 court decisions, SpeechNow.org v. FEC and Citizens United v. FEC.
Funding
Individuals, corporations and unions.
Disclosure
Must report donors to the FEC.
Scale
Super PACs spent over $2 billion in the 2020 election cycle.
Critics and supporters
Critics cite influence of money. Supporters cite free speech.
Legal origin and rules
Super PACs, formally independent-expenditure-only committees, emerged after the 2010 federal court decision SpeechNow.org v. FEC and the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC ruling. They may raise unlimited sums from individuals, corporations and unions to support or oppose candidates, but cannot donate directly to candidates or coordinate with campaigns.
- Traditional PAC contributions to candidates are limited, for instance 5,000 USD per election from a multicandidate PAC to a candidate.
- Super PACs must register with the FEC and disclose donors in regular reports.
- Dark money groups organized as 501(c)(4) nonprofits do not have to disclose donors in the same way.
Scale and debate
Super PACs and other outside groups spent over 1 billion USD in the 2020 cycle according to OpenSecrets, and over 4 billion USD was spent by outside groups in recent cycles when combined. Supporters say that spending is protected free speech. Critics argue it gives wealthy donors outsized influence and weakens disclosure. Data on donors and spending can be searched on OpenSecrets and FEC.gov.
Legal origin and rules
Super PACs, formally independent expenditure only committees, emerged after the 2010 court decisions SpeechNow.org v. FEC and Citizens United v. FEC. They can raise unlimited sums from individuals, corporations and unions to support or oppose candidates but cannot coordinate with campaigns or give directly.
Scale and debate
Super PACs spent over 2 billion USD in the 2020 election cycle according to OpenSecrets. Supporters say it is protected speech and critics say it increases the influence of wealthy donors. They must report donors to the FEC.
Regulation and disclosure
Super PACs must register with the FEC and file reports detailing donors giving over 200 USD. They can use unlimited funds for ads but cannot donate directly to candidates. Coordination rules limit contact with campaigns. In 2022, super PACs spent about 2.3 billion USD, according to OpenSecrets.
Related organizations
Traditional PACs limit donations to 5,000 USD per candidate per election. 501(c)(4) groups can spend on politics without disclosing donors, often called dark money. Citizens United v. FEC (2010) allowed corporations and unions to spend on independent political speech.
Based on data from the Federal Election Commission and OpenSecrets
