Super PAC

A super PAC, formally an independent-expenditure-only committee, is a political action committee that may accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, unions and other groups and spend unlimited amounts on advertising and other efforts to elect or defeat candidates. In exchange, it is prohibited from contributing directly to candidates or coordinating spending with campaigns or parties.

Super PACs emerged after court decisions in 2010, notably Citizens United v. FEC and SpeechNow.org v. FEC, which held that limits on independent spending cannot be justified by the government's interest in preventing corruption. They must register with the Federal Election Commission and disclose donors and spending regularly, though donations may come through nonprofit groups that do not disclose donors, which feeds worries about dark money.

Super PACs now play a large role in presidential and congressional campaigns, with many aligned with a single candidate, often run by their former aides. Supporters say they are an exercise of free speech and political association, and that the disclosure rules provide transparency. Critics, mostly on the left but also some on the right, argue that the independence from campaigns is a fiction and that they give wealthy donors outsize influence. A traditional political action committee has strict contribution limits.