political action committee

In the USA, any lobbying organization that raises funds for political candidates and in return seeks to commit them to a particular policy. PACs also spend money on changing public opinion through media campaigns. In 1990, there were about 4,300 PACs, controlling 30% of all funds spent in elections for Congress. Donations to candidates amounted to $358.1 million, the largest PACs being the National Association of Realtors and the American Medical Association.