Super PAC

Written By Jonathan Milner

Definition

PAC is a political committee that raises and spends money to elect or defeat candidates. Most PACs represent businesses, such as the Microsoft PAC; labor unions, such as the Teamsters PAC; or ideological interests, such as the EMILY's List PAC or the National Rifle Association PAC. An organization's PAC will solicit money from the group's employees or members and make contributions in the name of the PAC to candidates and political parties. Individuals contributing to a PAC may also contribute directly to candidates and political parties, even those also supported by the PAC.

Super PACs are a relatively new type of political action committee that arose following the July 2010 federal court decision in a case known as SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission. Technically known as independent expenditure-only committees, super PACs may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates. Unlike traditional PACs, super PACs are prohibited from donating money directly to political candidates, and their spending must not be coordinated with that of the candidates they benefit. Super PACs are required to report their donors to the Federal Election Commission on a monthly or semiannual basis — the super PAC's choice — in off-years, and monthly in the year of an election.

Example

 
 

Questions

  1. What is a PAC?

  2. What is a Super PAC?

  3. What is the difference between a PAC and a Super PAC?

  4. If you wanted to support a candidate and directly contribute money to their campaign would you be better off establishing a PAC or a Super PAC?

  5. As of March 11, 2024, 2,002 groups organized as super PACs have reported total receipts of $1,009,094,926 and total independent expenditures of $262,296,171 in the 2021-2022 cycle. Is this amount of money good for democracy?

  6. Who is this amount of money good for?

  7. How much do you think Super PACs will influence the 2024 election?

  8. If you were a candidate running for office would you rather have a PAC or a Super PAC supporting you?

  9. Is there a good emoji to express the meaning of Super PAC?

  10. Here is a list of actual Super PAC names. Create your own Super PAC name!

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw SUPER PAC. Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

Further Review

GoPo Glossary

Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
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