What is a political action committee (PAC)?

A political action committee (PAC) is fundamentally defined as an organization that raises and spends money to elect or defeat political candidates. PACs play a crucial role in the political landscape by gathering financial resources from their members and strategically allocating those funds to support candidates whose views align with their interests or to opposition candidates they seek to defeat.

This functionality allows PACs to exert influence on political campaigns, impacting electoral outcomes. By contributing to candidates' campaigns, PACs can make a significant difference in terms of visibility and campaigning power, ensuring that the candidates they support can effectively communicate their message and reach voters.

While other groups may focus on voter engagement, local election campaigns, or party platforms, their primary functions differ from those of PACs, which are specifically aimed at financing political candidates. Thus, the definition aligns correctly with the established role of PACs in the political system.