What is a Super PAC?

• A. A PAC that can raise and spend unlimited sums independently of a candidate or party, though can donate directly to candidates.
• B. A Super PAC that can raise and spend unlimited sums independently of a candidate or party, though cannot donate directly to candidates.
• C. A Super PAC that must donate a portion of its funds to candidates.
• D. A committee that is formed solely to support one candidate with limited contributions.

Answer: (B)

Super PACs are independent expenditure committees that may raise and spend unlimited sums to advocate for or against candidates, but they cannot donate directly to candidates or coordinate with campaigns. This captures the defining feature: unlimited fundraising and independent spending aimed at influencing elections, paired with the prohibition on direct candidate contributions. Because of that, the option describing unlimited, independent spending plus no direct contributions to candidates is the correct one.

Why the other descriptions don’t fit: one option says a Super PAC can donate directly to candidates, which is not allowed because Super PACs must operate independently of campaigns and parties. Another suggests the committee must donate a portion of its funds to candidates, which contradicts the independence and unlimited spending model. The last option describes a group formed to support one candidate with capped contributions, which aligns more with a traditional PAC or a candidate-support committee, not a Super PAC that can spend unlimitedly and operate independently.