Super PACs

Definition

Super PACs, or independent expenditure-only committees, are organizations that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against political candidates. They operate independently from candidate campaigns, meaning they cannot coordinate directly with the candidates they support. This allows them to play a significant role in campaign finance, particularly in influencing elections through advertisements and other forms of political communication.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Super PACs emerged after the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, which allowed for unlimited contributions from individuals and corporations.
2. They must operate independently from candidate campaigns and cannot coordinate their activities with the candidates they support.
3. Super PACs are required to disclose their donors, but they can receive contributions from anonymous sources through 'dark money' organizations.
4. These organizations have become influential in American politics by significantly increasing the amount of money spent on campaigns, particularly in competitive elections.
5. Super PACs can raise funds from various sources, including individuals, corporations, and unions, which allows them to create extensive advertising campaigns.

Review Questions

• How do super PACs differ from traditional PACs in terms of fundraising and spending?
  • Super PACs differ from traditional PACs primarily in their ability to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. While traditional PACs are subject to strict contribution limits and must adhere to specific regulations regarding fundraising and spending, super PACs can accept contributions from any source without limits. This allows super PACs to play a much larger role in financing political campaigns and influencing election outcomes through extensive advertising efforts.
• What impact did the Citizens United v. FEC decision have on the role of super PACs in U.S. elections?
  • The Citizens United v. FEC decision fundamentally changed the landscape of campaign finance by removing restrictions on independent expenditures by corporations and unions. As a result, super PACs were established to take advantage of this ruling, allowing them to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose candidates. This has led to an increase in the overall spending on elections, making super PACs a powerful force in shaping political narratives and influencing voter behavior.
• Evaluate the implications of super PACs on democratic processes and electoral integrity in the United States.
  • The presence of super PACs has significant implications for democratic processes and electoral integrity in the U.S. By enabling unlimited funding from wealthy individuals and corporations, super PACs can disproportionately amplify certain voices and agendas over others, potentially undermining the principle of equal representation. Additionally, concerns arise regarding transparency and accountability, as some donations can remain anonymous through dark money channels. These factors raise questions about the fairness of elections and whether they reflect the will of the general populace or are instead influenced by a select few with substantial financial resources.

Related terms

Political Action Committee (PAC): A PAC is a type of organization that raises and spends money to elect or defeat political candidates, but is subject to contribution limits, unlike super PACs.

Citizens United v. FEC:

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited under the First Amendment, leading to the rise of super PACs.

Independent Expenditure: Money spent by individuals or groups to advocate for or against a candidate without coordinating with the candidate's campaign.