A traditional PAC can give money directly to candidates and parties, but it can only accept limited contributions from individuals and can’t take corporate or union treasury money. A super PAC can raise unlimited amounts from individuals, corporations and unions, but it can’t give to candidates or coordinate its spending with them. Both must disclose their donors to the Federal Election Commission.
What is a traditional PAC? #
A political action committee pools contributions and spends them to influence elections, mostly by donating to candidates and parties. PACs have been part of federal politics since the 1940s. There are two main kinds.
Connected PACs (separate segregated funds) #
Set up by a corporation, labor union, trade association or membership group. The sponsoring organization can pay the PAC’s administrative and fundraising costs, but the contributions it gives to candidates must come voluntarily from a restricted group, such as employees, shareholders or members.
Nonconnected PACs #
Independent groups organized around an issue or ideology, which can raise money from the general public and pay their own costs. Leadership PACs, set up by members of Congress to support other candidates, are a common type.
Contribution limits for traditional PACs #
For the 2025–2026 cycle, per the FEC’s contribution limits chart:
| Contribution | Limit |
|---|---|
| Individual to a PAC | $5,000 per year |
| Multicandidate PAC to a candidate | $5,000 per election (primary and general count separately) |
| Multicandidate PAC to a national party committee | $15,000 per year |
| Individual to a candidate, for comparison | $3,500 per election |
What is a super PAC? #
The FEC calls it an independent expenditure-only political committee. Super PACs grew out of two 2010 rulings: the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC, which held that corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts on independent political speech, and the D.C. Circuit’s SpeechNow.org v. FEC, which held that groups making only independent expenditures can accept unlimited contributions.
No contribution limits #
Individuals, corporations and unions can give a super PAC any amount. Single donors giving tens of millions of dollars in a cycle are no longer unusual.
The trade-off: independence #
A super PAC can’t give money to candidates or parties, and it can’t coordinate its spending with a candidate’s campaign. Its spending must be independent expenditures: ads, mail, digital campaigns or canvassing that expressly support or oppose a candidate, made without the campaign’s cooperation or request.
PAC vs. super PAC side by side #
| Traditional PAC | Super PAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual contributions | Up to $5,000 a year | Unlimited |
| Corporate and union treasury money | Not for contributions (connected PACs’ sponsors can pay overhead) | Unlimited |
| Gives directly to candidates | Yes, up to $5,000 per election | No |
| Coordinates with campaigns | Can, within contribution limits | No |
| Main activity | Contributions to candidates and parties | Independent ads and outreach |
| Donor disclosure | Yes, to the FEC | Yes, to the FEC, but donors can be other organizations |
What is a hybrid PAC? #
A hybrid PAC, or Carey committee (after the 2011 case Carey v. FEC), runs both models under one roof with two separate bank accounts: a limited account that can give to candidates, and an unlimited account for independent expenditures. It’s become a common setup for large political groups.
Where does coordination end? #
The ban on coordination is real, but the line is thinner than it sounds.
- “Redboxing.” Campaigns post messaging guidance and video footage publicly on their websites, sometimes in a box at the bottom of a page. Allied super PACs can use publicly available material without it counting as coordination.
- Shared personnel. Super PACs backing a candidate are often run by the candidate’s former aides or allies, who know the strategy without needing to talk to the campaign.
- Candidate appearances. Candidates can appear at super PAC fundraisers, within limits on what they can personally ask for.
Enforcement has also stalled. The FEC lost its four-member quorum on May 1, 2025, which stops it from voting on complaints, issuing advisory opinions or writing rules until enough commissioners are confirmed. Disclosure filing continues. Check fec.gov for the commission’s current status.
How does “dark money” fit in? #
Super PACs must disclose their donors, but a donor can be a nonprofit such as a 501(c)(4) “social welfare” group, which generally doesn’t have to disclose its own funders. When that nonprofit gives to a super PAC, the public sees only the nonprofit’s name. Our explainer on dark money in politics covers how these structures work.
How PAC and super PAC money shapes races #
In competitive Senate and House races, outside spending by super PACs and party-aligned groups often rivals or exceeds what the candidates spend. Super PACs frequently carry the negative advertising, letting candidates keep their own ads positive.
Campaigns still have one big advantage: under federal law, broadcasters must sell candidates ad time at the lowest unit rate in the 45 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election. Super PACs pay market rates, so a dollar raised by the campaign buys more airtime than a dollar raised by an allied super PAC.
Does all that money move votes? Sometimes, and less than the spending totals suggest; late ad blitzes in saturated markets often have small effects. You can check for yourself by watching a race’s polling before and after a big spending surge. Election Tracker, our free iPhone app, shows each Senate and governor race’s polls with a 30-day average and trend line, so a shift after a spending surge, or the lack of one, is easy to spot. To see who’s spending, use the FEC’s data; our guide to tracking campaign donations with FEC data shows how.
Frequently asked questions #
Can a super PAC give money directly to a candidate? #
No. Super PACs can’t contribute to federal candidates or parties. Their money goes to independent spending, such as ads and mailers they produce themselves.
Can foreign citizens donate to PACs or super PACs? #
No. Federal law bars foreign nationals from contributing to any US election, including through PACs and super PACs. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) aren’t foreign nationals under this rule and can contribute.
What is a leadership PAC? #
A PAC set up by a member of Congress or other officeholder to raise money and give it to other candidates. It’s a way to build support among colleagues, especially for members seeking leadership posts.
How do I find out who funds a super PAC? #
Search the committee on fec.gov and look at its itemized receipts. If a donor is a nonprofit or an LLC, you may need to research that organization separately, and some nonprofits don’t disclose their own donors.