In the United States, a Political Action Committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a matter of state and federal law. Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, an organization becomes a "political committee" by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1,000 for the purpose of influencing a federal election.

Contents 1 Use of PACs 2 Categorization of PACs 2.1 Connected PACs 2.2 Non-Connected PACs 3 Leadership PAC 3.1 Controversial use of Leadership PACs 4 2008 Election Cycle 5 Top All-Time Donors 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Use of PACs

When an interest group, union, or corporation wants to contribute to federal candidates or parties, it must do so through a PAC. These PACs receive and raise money from a "restricted class," generally consisting of managers and shareholders in the case of a corporation, and members in the case of a union or other interest group. The PAC may then make donations to political campaigns. PACs and individuals are the only entities allowed to contribute funds to candidates for federal office. Contributions from corporate or labor union treasuries are illegal, though they may sponsor a PAC and provide financial support for its administration and fundraising. Overall, PACs account for less than thirty percent of total contributions in U.S. Congressional races, and considerably less in presidential races.

Contributions by individuals to federal PACs are limited to $5,000 per year. Corporations and unions may not contribute directly to federal PACs, though they may pay for the administrative costs of a PAC affiliated with the specific corporation or union. Corporate-affiliated PACs may only solicit contributions from executives, shareholders, and their families, while union-affiliated PACs may only solicit contributions from members. "Independent" PACs not affiliated with a corporation, union, or trade or membership association may solicit contributions from the general public but must pay their operating costs from these regulated contributions.

Federal multi-candidate PACs are limited in the amount of money they can contribute to candidate campaigns or other organizations:

• at most $5,000 per candidate per election. Elections such as primaries, general elections and special elections are counted separately.
• at most $15,000 per political party per year.
• at most $5,000 per PAC per year.

Under federal law, PACs are not limited in their ability to spend money independently of a candidate campaign. This may include expenditures on activities in support of (or against) a candidate, as long as they are not coordinated with the candidate.

If two or more PACs share the same sponsoring organization, they are considered to be "affiliated" and their total donations are counted under aggregate limits, i.e. the total donations from all may not exceed $5,000 for a specific candidate in a given election.

PACs must report all of the financial activities, including direct donations and other expenses, to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which makes the reports available to the public.

[edit] Categorization of PACs

• See also List of political action committees.

Federal law allows for two types of PACs, connected and non-connected.

[edit] Connected PACs

Most of the 4,600 active, registered PACs are "Connected PACs", which are established by businesses, labor unions, trade groups and health organizations. These PACs receive and raise money from a "restricted class," generally consisting of managers and shareholders in the case of a corporation and members in the case of a union or other interest group. As of January 2009 there are 1,598 registered corporate PACs, 272 connected to labor unions and 995 connected to trade organizations. ^[1]

[edit] Non-Connected PACs

Groups with an ideological mission, single-issue groups and members of Congress and other political leaders may form "non-connected PACs". These organizations may accept funds from any individual, business PAC or organization. As of January 2009 there are 1,594 non-connected PACs, the fastest-growing category.^[2]

[edit] Leadership PAC

A leadership PAC in U.S. politics is a political action committee that can be established by a member of Congress to support other candidates. Under FEC rules, Leadership PACs are non-connected PACs, meaning, they can accept donations from any individual, business or other PACs. While Leadership PAC funds cannot be spent to directly support their sponsor's own campaign (such as mail or ads), they may fund travel, office expenses, consultants, polling and other non-campaign expenses. They can also be used to make contributions to the campaigns of other candidates.^[3][4][5]

Between 2008 and 2009 Leadership PACs raised and spent more than $47 million.^[6]

[edit] Controversial use of Leadership PACs

• Speaker Nancy Pelosi's leadership PAC, Team Majority, was fined $21,000 by federal election officials "for improperly accepting donations over federal limits."^[7]
• Former Rep. John Doolittle's leadership PAC, Superior California Federal Leadership Fund, pays his wife's single-person company, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions, 15 percent of all money raised ($68,630 in 2003-2004, $224,000 in 2005-2006). A campaign committee report in February said Doolittle's campaign still owed Julie Doolittle $137,000.^[8] The PAC also has purchased $2,139 in gifts for Bose Corporation.^[9]
• Former Rep. Richard Pombo has used his leadership PAC to pay hotel bills ($22,896) and to buy baseball tickets ($320) for donors.^[10]

[edit] 2008 Election Cycle

In the 2008 elections, the top 10 PACs by money spent by themselves, their affiliates and subsidiaries were as follows:

1. National Association of Realtors PAC $4,020,900
2. IBEW PAC $3,344,650
3. AT&T Federal PAC $3,108,200
4. American Bankers Association (BANK PAC) $2,918,14
5. National Beer Wholesalers Association PAC $2,869,000
6. Dealers Election Action Committee of the National Automobile Dealers Association $2,860,000
7. International Association of Fire Fighters $2,734,900
8. International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Political Education Committee $2,704,067
9. American Association for Justice PAC $2,700,500
10. Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) PAC $2,555,350

[edit] Top All-Time Donors

According to OpenSecrets.org,^[11] the top contributors since 1988 ranked by their total spending along with the party tilt of their contributions are:

Rank	Organization	Total	Dem %	Repub %	Tilt
1	American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees	$39,947,843	98%	1%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
2	AT&T Inc	$39,772,431	43%	55%	Between 40% and 59% to both parties
3	National Assn of Realtors	$33,280,206	47%	52%	Between 40% and 59% to both parties
4	Goldman Sachs	$29,588,362	63%	36%	Leans Dem (60%-69%)
5	American Assn for Justice	$29,520,389	90%	9%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
6	Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers	$28,733,734	97%	2%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
7	National Education Assn	$28,388,334	93%	6%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
8	Laborers' Union	$26,881,889	91%	7%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
9	Service Employees International Union	$26,719,663	95%	3%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
10	Carpenters & Joiners Union	$25,995,149	90%	9%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
11	Teamsters Union	$25,627,772	92%	6%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
12	Communications Workers of America	$25,404,269	99%	0%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
13	American Medical Assn	$25,235,971	38%	61%	Leans Repub (60%-72%)
14	American Federation of Teachers	$24,969,593	98%	0%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
15	Citigroup Inc	$24,784,983	49%	50%	Between 40% and 59% to both parties
16	United Auto Workers	$24,634,120	98%	0%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
17	Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union	$23,548,086	98%	0%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
18	Altria Group	$23,264,991	27%	72%	Leans Repub (60%-72%)
19	United Food & Commercial Workers Union	$22,926,107	98%	1%	Solidly Dem (over 90%)
20	National Auto Dealers Assn	$22,733,608	31%	68%	Leans Repub (60%-72%)

[edit] See also

• List of political action committees
• Politics of the United States
• Lobbying in the United States
• Soft money
• 527 group

[edit] References

1. ^ "News Release: Number of Federal PACs Increases", March 9, 2009, Federal Election Commission
2. ^ "News Release: Number of Federal PACs Increases", March 9, 2009, Federal Election Commission
3. ^ Marcus Stern, and Jennifer LaFleur (September 26, 2009), Leadership PACs: Let the Good Times Roll, Pro Publica, http://www.propublica.org/feature/leadership-pacs-let-the-good-times-roll-925, retrieved December 10, 2009 
4. ^ "Leadership PACs and Sponsors", Federal Election Commission
5. ^ "Congress 101: Political Action Committees", Congressional Quarterly
6. ^ Leadership PACs, Center for Responsive Politics
7. ^ USATODAY.com - Pelosi PAC fined $21,000 by federal elections officials
8. ^ Politics - FBI raids Doolittle house - sacbee.com
9. ^ Political Action Committees
10. ^ Lawmaker Criticized for PAC Fees Paid to Wife - washingtonpost.com
11. ^ "Heavy Hitters:Top All-Time Donors 1989-2008 Summary". http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php. 

[edit] External links

• Federal Election Commission
• Money in Politics Data from www.OpenSecrets.org
• PoliticalMoneyLine
• Campaign Guide for Corporations and Labor Organizations
• Campaign Guide for Nonconnected Committees