Avoids contribution limits
Because independent expenditures are not subject to dollar caps, they have become the primary vehicle for large-scale political spending by wealthy individuals, corporations, and unions.
In plain English
Outside spending that bypasses the campaign.
Money outside groups spend on their own to support or oppose a candidate, without working directly with the candidate's campaign.
Simple example
A super PAC airing television ads attacking a presidential candidate, funded by donors giving millions of dollars, is making independent expenditures regulated by the FEC.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
Disclosure varies
Some independent spenders, like super PACs, must report their donors to the FEC, while certain nonprofits are not required to disclose donors — a category critics call 'dark money.'
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
No coordination rule
Spending must be made independently of the candidate's campaign. FEC rules define what counts as illegal coordination, including sharing strategy or using common vendors in certain ways.
Reporting requirements
Super PACs file regular disclosures with the Federal Election Commission listing donors and expenditures, while 501(c)(4) nonprofits generally do not disclose donors.
Related guide
What is Citizens United, and what would overturning it mean?
A 2010 Supreme Court ruling reshaped how money flows into American elections — and the debate over whether to undo it is still unresolved.
Read the guide → Related issue brief
Should Citizens United be overturned?
More than a decade after the Supreme Court reshaped campaign finance, Americans remain divided over whether the ruling should stand.
Read the brief →You’ve learned the term. Now vote.
Should Citizens United be overturned?
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