What is the maximum direct contribution a PAC can make to a candidate per election?

A Political Action Committee (PAC) can contribute a maximum of $5,000 to a candidate's campaign per election. This limit is set by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations related to campaign financing. PACs are designed to represent special interest groups and can gather funds from members to donate to candidates, thereby influencing elections.

The $5,000 contribution limit applies to each election cycle, which includes separate limits for primaries and general elections. This means that a PAC can contribute $5,000 for the primary and another $5,000 for the general election, effectively allowing a total of $10,000 in contributions from a single PAC to a candidate across an entire election cycle. This system seeks to regulate the influence of money in politics while still permitting organizational support for candidates.

Understanding this contribution limit is crucial in studying how PACs operate within the election finance landscape and reflects broader themes of campaign financing regulations in U.S. governance.