What is a PAC?

Political Action Committee (PAC) — A popular term for a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor or ideological interests. Federal PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee per election (primary, general or special). They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC such as a leadership PAC. Federal PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one individual, PAC or party committee per calendar year. A Federal PAC must register with the FEC within 10 days of its formation, providing name and address for the PAC, its treasurer and any connected organizations. Affiliated PACs are treated as one donor for the purpose of contribution limits.

PACs have been around since 1944, when the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) formed the first one to raise money for the re-election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The PAC money came from voluntary contributions from union members rather than union treasuries, so it did not violate the Smith Connally Act of 1943, which forbade unions from contributing to federal candidates. Although commonly called PACs, federal election law refers to these accounts as "separate segregated funds" because money contributed to a PAC is kept in a bank account separate from the general corporate or union treasury.

There are also state and local PACs which follow different set of regulation guidelines. They must register within each state at it s elections entity. There are different amounts that can both be raised and given to and from each state and local PAC. Some may also accept corporate dollars.

You can find more information on NAMIC's PAC website.

Posted: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Monday, March 07, 2011 11:35:04 PM.