PACs, Super PACs & Political Organizations

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that raises and spends money to influence elections while complying with federal campaign finance laws.

PAC

Abbreviation for Political Action Committee, a committee that collects contributions and uses them to support or oppose political candidates.

Traditional PAC

A PAC that may contribute directly to candidates within federal contribution limits and must comply with Federal Election Commission regulations.

Connected PAC

A PAC sponsored by a corporation, labor union, membership organization, or trade association that may solicit contributions only from a restricted class such as employees or members.

Nonconnected PAC

A PAC not sponsored by a corporation or labor union that may solicit contributions from the general public.

Separate Segregated Fund (SSF)

The official legal term for a connected PAC established by a corporation, labor union, or trade association using voluntary employee or member contributions.

Restricted Class

The group of individuals, such as employees, executives, shareholders, or union members, who may legally be solicited by a connected PAC.

Corporate PAC

A connected PAC established by a corporation that raises voluntary contributions from eligible employees or shareholders.

Union PAC

A connected PAC established by a labor union using voluntary contributions from union members.

Trade Association PAC

A connected PAC established by a trade association representing businesses or industries.

Membership Organization PAC

A PAC sponsored by an organization whose members share a common purpose or profession.

Leadership PAC

A PAC created by a current officeholder to support other candidates, strengthen political alliances, and build influence within a political party.

Leadership PAC (Purpose)

Allows politicians to gain influence by financially supporting fellow candidates rather than financing only their own campaigns.

Multicandidate PAC

A PAC that has supported multiple federal candidates and qualifies for higher contribution limits under federal law.

Qualified Multicandidate Committee

A PAC recognized by the FEC after meeting legal requirements regarding membership, duration, and candidate support.

Federal PAC

A PAC registered with the Federal Election Commission that participates in federal elections.

State PAC

A PAC organized under state campaign finance laws to participate primarily in state elections.

Local PAC

A political action committee operating primarily in local elections.

Independent Expenditure-Only Committee

The official legal name for a Super PAC because it may only make independent expenditures.

Super PAC

A political committee that may raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from individuals, corporations, unions, and organizations but cannot contribute directly to candidates or coordinate with campaigns.

Super PAC (Creation)

Super PACs became possible following Citizens United v. FEC (2010) and SpeechNow.org v. FEC (2010).

Super PAC (Funding)

May accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor unions, and other organizations.

Super PAC (Restriction)

Cannot coordinate campaign strategy or expenditures with candidates or political parties.

Super PAC (Purpose)

Makes unlimited independent expenditures supporting or opposing candidates through advertising and political communications.

Independent Expenditure Committee

Another name for a Super PAC because it engages only in independent expenditures.

Hybrid PAC

A political committee maintaining separate accounts for direct contributions and unlimited independent expenditures.

Carey Committee

Another name for a Hybrid PAC following Carey v. FEC.

Candidate Committee

The official campaign organization established by a candidate to raise and spend campaign funds.

Authorized Committee

The campaign committee officially designated by a candidate to receive contributions and make expenditures.

Principal Campaign Committee

The primary committee designated by a federal candidate for campaign finance purposes.

Joint Fundraising Committee

A committee created by multiple candidates or party organizations to jointly raise campaign funds.

Political Committee

Any organization receiving contributions or making expenditures above federal reporting thresholds.

National Party Committee

The official national organization of a political party responsible for fundraising, campaign support, voter outreach, and party operations.

Democratic National Committee (DNC)

The national governing committee of the Democratic Party responsible for fundraising, organizing campaigns, and supporting Democratic candidates.

Republican National Committee (RNC)

The national governing committee of the Republican Party responsible for fundraising, organizing campaigns, and supporting Republican candidates.

Congressional Campaign Committee

A party committee responsible for electing members of Congress.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)

The Democratic Party committee responsible for electing Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.

National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)

The Republican Party committee responsible for electing Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)

The Democratic Party committee responsible for electing Democrats to the U.S. Senate.

National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC)

The Republican Party committee responsible for electing Republicans to the U.S. Senate.

State Party Committee

The official political party organization operating within a state.

County Party Committee

The local political party organization responsible for grassroots organizing and local fundraising.

Local Party Committee

A political party organization serving cities, towns, or counties.

Party Committee

An official political party organization engaged in fundraising and election activities.

Party-Building Activities

Activities such as voter registration, volunteer recruitment, and grassroots organizing intended to strengthen political parties.

Party Coordinated Expenditure

Limited spending by political parties coordinated with candidates as permitted under federal law.

Political Party

An organized group seeking to elect candidates and influence government policy through elections.

Major Party

A political party receiving broad electoral support, such as the Democratic or Republican Party.

Minor Party

A political party with significantly less electoral success than the two major parties.

Third Party

A political party other than the Democratic or Republican Party.

527 Organization

A tax-exempt political organization established under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code to influence elections.

527 Political Organization

An organization primarily engaged in political advocacy that must disclose contributors and expenditures under federal law.

527 Independent Group

A political organization making independent expenditures without coordinating with candidates.

501(c)(4) Organization

A nonprofit social welfare organization permitted to engage in political advocacy while generally not publicly disclosing its donors.

501(c)(4) Social Welfare Organization

A nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is promoting social welfare but which may participate in limited political activities.

501(c)(4) (Dark Money)

Because donor disclosure is generally not required, many 501(c)(4) organizations are major sources of dark money.

501(c)(5) Organization

A nonprofit labor organization permitted to engage in political advocacy related to workers' interests.

501(c)(6) Organization

A nonprofit trade association representing business interests that may participate in political advocacy.

Trade Association

An organization representing businesses within a particular industry that may sponsor a PAC or engage in political advocacy.

Labor Union

An organization representing workers that may sponsor PACs and make independent political expenditures.

Corporation

A legal business entity that may not contribute directly to federal candidates but may establish PACs and make independent expenditures following Citizens United.

Corporate PAC

A PAC sponsored by a corporation that raises voluntary contributions from eligible employees.

Union PAC

A PAC sponsored by a labor union using voluntary contributions from union members.

Business PAC

A PAC representing the interests of businesses or industries.

Ideological PAC

A PAC organized around shared political beliefs or policy goals rather than business or labor interests.

Single-Issue PAC

A PAC focused primarily on one policy issue, such as abortion, gun rights, or environmental protection.

Membership PAC

A PAC sponsored by an organization representing members with common interests.

Political Nonprofit

A nonprofit organization participating in political advocacy under federal tax law.

Independent Advocacy Group

An organization spending money independently to influence elections without coordinating with candidates.

Outside Group

A political organization operating independently of candidate campaigns while attempting to influence election outcomes.

Interest Group

An organized association seeking to influence public policy and government decisions without directly nominating candidates.

Lobbying Organization

An organization employing lobbyists to influence legislation and public policy.

Grassroots Organization

A group mobilizing ordinary citizens to participate in politics and influence government decisions.

Issue Organization

An organization primarily focused on promoting particular public policy positions.

Advocacy Organization

A group working to influence government policy through education, lobbying, litigation, or political activity.

Political Network

An informal coalition of donors, organizations, consultants, and activists cooperating to influence elections.

Political Coalition

An alliance of organizations or interest groups working together to achieve common political goals.

Political Alliance

A cooperative relationship among candidates, parties, PACs, or interest groups pursuing shared objectives.

Independent Organization

A political group operating separately from candidate campaigns.

Campaign Vendor

A private company providing campaign services such as advertising, polling, fundraising, or consulting.

Political Consulting Firm

A company specializing in campaign strategy, fundraising, communications, polling, or voter outreach.

Polling Firm

A company conducting surveys to measure public opinion during campaigns.

Media Consulting Firm

A business producing political advertisements and communications for campaigns and outside groups.

Fundraising Consultant

A professional advising campaigns or organizations on maximizing political contributions.

Compliance Firm

A company helping campaigns comply with campaign finance laws and FEC reporting requirements.

Political Data Firm

A business analyzing voter information to improve campaign strategy and fundraising.

Campaign Vendor Coordination

When outside vendors improperly facilitate communication between independent organizations and campaigns, potentially violating coordination rules.

Independent Political Organization

A group making expenditures without coordinating with candidates and therefore protected under the First Amendment.

Political Infrastructure

The network of parties, PACs, nonprofits, consultants, donors, and advocacy organizations collectively influencing elections.

Political Ecosystem

The interconnected system of candidates, parties, interest groups, PACs, nonprofit organizations, lobbyists, donors, consultants, and voters participating in American elections.

SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Federal appellate court case holding that organizations making only independent expenditures may receive unlimited contributions, effectively creating Super PACs.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Supreme Court case holding that corporations and labor unions have a First Amendment right to make unlimited independent political expenditures, dramatically expanding the role of outside organizations in elections.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976) (PAC Significance)

Supreme Court case establishing that contribution limits are constitutional while expenditure limits generally violate the First Amendment, providing the constitutional foundation for modern campaign finance organizations.

Political Organization Structure

The legal framework defining how candidates, parties, PACs, Super PACs, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations may raise and spend money under federal law.