What is a PAC?

In the 1970’s, in an effort to reform political campaign fundraising, Congress authorized the establishment of political action committees, or PACs. Today, over 4,000 PACs (for nearly every cause) raise money and educate Congress in the hopes of affecting public policy. Operating under strict campaign finance regulations, PACs are legitimate media through which individual citizens can direct their contributions to support federal candidates who represent their views on issues of concern to them.