Super PACs

Definition

Super PACs, or 'independent expenditure-only committees,' are political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against candidates in elections. They emerged following the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, which ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited funds on political campaigns, thereby significantly influencing the landscape of campaign financing and media regulation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Super PACs can accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, and unions, allowing them to amass substantial financial resources for political campaigns.
2. They are required to operate independently from candidate campaigns and cannot coordinate directly with them, which raises questions about transparency and accountability.
3. The rise of Super PACs has led to increased political advertising, often resulting in negative campaigning and a more polarized political environment.
4. While they cannot contribute directly to candidates, Super PACs can spend unlimited amounts on independent expenditures like ads and mailings advocating for or against candidates.
5. The influence of Super PACs has been criticized for exacerbating the role of money in politics, leading to calls for reform in campaign finance laws.

Review Questions

• How did the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC impact the creation and function of Super PACs?
  • The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC fundamentally changed campaign finance laws by ruling that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amounts of money on political advocacy. This ruling allowed for the creation of Super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited funds independent of candidate campaigns. The result has been a significant shift in how elections are funded, leading to greater influence from wealthy donors and organizations in the political process.
• Evaluate the implications of Super PACs on the political landscape and media regulation in modern elections.
  • Super PACs have transformed the political landscape by enabling the flow of vast sums of money into election campaigns, often resulting in increased negative advertising and polarization among voters. They complicate media regulation efforts as their independent nature makes it challenging to impose transparency rules. This evolution raises concerns about the integrity of democracy, as the voices of average citizens may be drowned out by wealthy contributors leveraging their financial power.
• Assess the ethical considerations surrounding Super PACs and their effect on democratic processes.
  • The existence of Super PACs raises several ethical considerations regarding fairness and equality in democratic processes. The ability for entities to contribute unlimited funds can lead to a scenario where elections are influenced more by money than by voter preference. This situation undermines democratic ideals by potentially allowing a small group of wealthy individuals and corporations to wield disproportionate influence over public policy and electoral outcomes, prompting discussions about the need for campaign finance reform to ensure a more equitable political system.

Related terms

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.

Dark Money: Political spending by nonprofit organizations that are not required to disclose their donors, often funneled through Super PACs to influence elections without transparency.

Political Action Committee (PAC): An organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, typically limited in how much they can contribute to candidates compared to Super PACs.