R Sheets Governance

R Sheet on Leadership PACs

Key Points

Leadership PACs are political action committees created to promote the politicians who establish them.
These committees used to be relegated to party leaders but today almost every member of Congress has a leadership PAC.
Leadership PACs were originally a vehicle for members to raise money for colleagues. Today, less than 50 percent of leadership PAC funds go to support others.
The FEC can extend personal use restrictions to leadership PACs and members can take action to deemphasize fundraising expectations in the chamber.

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