A political action committee (PAC) is any organization in the United States that campaigns for or against a candidate, ballot initiatives or legislation. At the federal level, an organization becomes a PAC when it receives or spends more than $1,000 for the purpose of influencing a federal election, according to the Federal Election Campaign Act. At the state level, an organization becomes a PAC according to the state's election laws.
Read more about Political Action Committee: History of PACs in The United States, Categorization of PACs, Keeping Donor Lists Hidden From Voters, The PAC Backlash, Federal Level Backlash, State Level Advisory Requests Pending, Legal Backlash At State Level, Super PAC Backlash, Congressional Backlash, Defending Super PAC Contributions, James Bopp, International Comparison and Response, 2008 Election, 2012 Election (estimates)
Famous quotes containing the words political, action and/or committee:
“History suggests that capitalism is a necessary condition for political freedom. Clearly it is not a sufficient condition.”
—Milton Friedman (b. 1912)
“A tragedy is a representation of an action that is whole and complete and of a certain magnitude.... A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end.”
—Aristotle (384323 B.C.)
“The cemetery isnt really a place to make a statement.”
—Mary Elizabeth Baker, U.S. cemetery committee head. As quoted in Newsweek magazine, p. 15 (June 13, 1988)