A CAMPAIGN GLOSSARY

The landscape for campaign giving and spending changed after a key Supreme Court ruling in 2010. Here’s a glossary of political fundraising groups and the rules they must follow:

Social-welfare organizations: Do not have to report specific donors so long as at least 51 percent of their money is spent on social-welfare pursuits. They can receive unlimited contributions and provide unlimited donations to political committees, but are not permitted to coordinate with those committees. They report broad categories of spending to the IRS.

Independent political committees: Can accept unlimited amounts of donations and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against an issue or candidate. They are not permitted to coordinate with any campaign and must report the contributions and spending on state campaign finance reports.

Candidate campaigns (local races): Can raise unlimited funds with the following individual donation limits – $2,600 for primary elections; $1,400 for primary runoff; $2,600 for general election; $1,400 for general runoff. Must report contributions and expenditures on state campaign finance reports.

Political Action Committees: Must report their fundraising and spending with the Federal Elections Commission. Contribution limits are $5,000 to a candidate committee per election; $15,000 annually to any national party committee; and up to $5,000 annually to any other PAC. They can receive up to $5,000 from any individual, PAC or party committee in any calendar year.

Super PACs: Must file regular financial reports with the FEC and can make no contributions to candidates or parties. They can make independent expenditures advocating the election or defeat of a specific candidate. There are no limits or restrictions on the sources of funds that may be used for these expenditures.