How does one go about launching a PAC?

[PresidentObama]

One of my buddies wants to launch an political action committee with me to focus on young Democrats, AKA College Democrats. He nor I know anything about how to go about that, and he's asking around a lot of the other local Democrats whom have launched PAC's or who know something about PAC's. Perhaps I'm being lazy in doing research, but it's his pet project and I just offered to help. Thought I'd at least open a thread to discuss this, because maybe someone on the board has always wanted to ask the same exact thing and didn't!!

Anywho, I'm going to check the FEC website. Which seems the obvious first place to go, but please provide any information or links you may have.

Thanks!! :hi:

[YOY]

1. By locking them in a rocket close to takeoff.

n/t

[crispini]

2. First question: Federal or State?

Laws are different.

Second question: What, exactly, do you intend to do with the money. and how much do you intend to raise? Because it is perfectly possible to start a club or other activist group or organization without actually incorporating as a PAC. You really only need a PAC if you are intent on raising a lot of money and doing a lot of political things with it. Every time that my DFA chapter or my local Democratic clubs look into becoming a PAC, we go, "Nah, too much trouble." You can do a lot with just a club structure and club dues, or at least we can, without having to officially go through the paperwork of filing to be a PAC.

[PresidentObama]

4. You know, this is his pet project. I offered to help.

I'm not sure his motives behind it. I know he wants to go the PAC route to raise money, instead of the club thing. Which was my obvious first question. Maybe this thread is premature, he just messaged me about it not even an hour ago. But I guess my mother always taught me to ask questions, and learn as much as possible to educate yourself. So I thought I'd ask :hi:

[crispini]

12. Haha, you are on the same page as me. :) nt

[sybylla]

7. Depends on the state...

In Wisconsin, you have to register as a PAC if you either individually or collectively spend more than $100 advocating for or against a political issue or candidate. But registration is simple and bookkeeping is nearly nonexistent if you spend less than $1000 per year and take individual contributions less than $100.

[sybylla]

3. It depends

If your PAC will only operate in your state, you must follow state rules. The place to go to for information varies by state but whatever your state election organization (in my state known as the State Elections Board) will be able to provide you with the documents you need to complete to start your PAC as well as the rules and requirements for conducting "business" in the state.

If what you want is a PAC that can function across state lines, then I would check with the FEC. If it involves a few states, you may have to register in each state. It's possible that the FEC will also license a non-party/non-candidate PAC under federal rules which can cross state lines - but you will have to follow a different set of fundraising requirements at the federal level than at the state level. That may simplify fundraising but complicate other matters. You'll probably need to conduct loads of research on this.

My suggestion, start with a state-based PAC if you've never run one before and after you get your feet wet, consider moving on to bigger and better things.

[PresidentObama]

6. Alright thank you.

State-based sounds just fine for now. He's really into a lot of the local politics, so the state-based PAC should be the right route. Thanks for that bit of information :)

[sybylla]

8. Good luck with your project!

Energizing young Dems is important and I hope you'll share your successes with us - perhaps in the activist forum.

[PresidentObama]

9. Will do.

:hug:

[Nite Owl]

5. Is the PAC goiing to be local

or national? We just registered out town dem committee and the form we needed to fill out needed a designation of what type of committee we were. One of the choices was a PAC. Read it all carefully the BOE is a real stickler for details. There should be a contact, someone to email or call. You may need to do both state and feds if it is going to be national.

[Sammy Pepys]

10. Helps to get a sponsor.

Your idea of checking the FEC is a good one.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

11. Secretary of State is the place to go in my state

Be sure to open a separate checking account under the name of the PAC. You'll need to apply for a Tax ID # from the IRS to do that

CT an online system for filing the periodic reports required of a PAC - most states probably do these days. Make sure you don't miss any filing deadlines - they can be convoluted and hard to keep track of.