Political action committee

In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect or defeat government officials in order to promote legislation, often supporting the group's special interests.

2004 Presidential election

In the 2004 elections, the top 10 PACs by money spent by themselves, their affiliates and subsidaries were:

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• EMILY's List $22,767,521
• Service Employees International Union $12,899,352
• American Federation of Teachers $12,789,296
• American Medical Association $11,901,542
• National Rifle Association $11,173,358
• Teamsters Union $11,128,729
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $10,819,724
• National Education Association $10,521,538
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees $9,882,022
• Laborers' International Union of North America $9,523,837