Political Finance Glossary

Campaign Finance Terms

PAC (Political Action Committee)

An organization that collects contributions from members and donates to political candidates. Subject to FEC contribution limits ($5,000 per candidate per election). PlainInfluence tracks PAC-to-candidate contributions.

Super PAC

An independent expenditure-only committee that can raise and spend unlimited funds to advocate for or against candidates. Cannot contribute directly to candidates or coordinate with campaigns. Must disclose donors.

Connected Organization (SSF Sponsor)

The corporation, union, or trade association that establishes and administers a PAC. The connected organization pays the PAC's administrative costs. The PAC then collects voluntary contributions from employees or members.

Dark Money

Political spending by organizations, typically 501(c)(4) nonprofits or 501(c)(6) trade associations, that are not required to disclose their donors. The spending itself may be reported to the FEC, but the source of funds remains hidden.

Hard Money

Contributions regulated by federal election law, subject to disclosure requirements and contribution limits. Includes donations to candidate committees, PACs, and party committees.

Independent Expenditure

Spending by a person or group to advocate for or against a candidate without coordinating with the candidate's campaign. Has no dollar limit since Citizens United (2010).

Bundling

The practice of collecting multiple individual contributions and delivering them together to a candidate or committee. Bundlers often receive recognition or access from the campaigns they support.

FEC (Federal Election Commission)

The independent federal agency that administers and enforces campaign finance law. Six commissioners, no more than three from the same party. Source of all campaign finance data on PlainInfluence.

Lobbying Terms

Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA)

Federal law requiring lobbyists to register with the Senate and report their activities quarterly, including clients, issue areas, and spending. Source of all lobbying data on PlainInfluence.

Registrant

The lobbying firm or organization that registers with the Senate under the LDA. A registrant may lobby on behalf of multiple clients.

Issue Area

The policy category a lobbyist reports working on, for example, health issues, defense, taxation, or trade. The Senate LDA defines 79 issue area codes. PlainInfluence aggregates spending by issue area.

Revolving Door

The movement of professionals between government and the private sector, particularly lobbying. Subject to cooling-off period restrictions under federal ethics law.

Shadow Lobbying

Influence activities that fall below the LDA reporting threshold, typically "strategic consulting" or "government relations advisory" work that does not involve enough direct lobbying contacts to require registration.

Federal Contracting Terms

Prime Contract

A contract awarded directly by a federal agency to a vendor. Distinguished from subcontracts, which are awarded by prime contractors to other vendors. PlainInfluence tracks prime contract awards from USAspending.gov.

FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation)

The comprehensive set of rules governing how the federal government purchases goods and services. Over 1,900 pages covering every aspect of procurement from solicitation through closeout.

Sole-Source Contract

A contract awarded to a single vendor without competitive bidding. Permitted in specific circumstances (unique capability, urgency, below simplified acquisition threshold). Requires written justification.

IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity)

A framework contract covering a range of work over a multi-year period. Individual task orders are placed against the IDIQ as needs arise. Common in IT and professional services.

PlainInfluence-Specific Terms

Entity Resolution

The process of linking the same organization across FEC, Senate LDA, and USAspending.gov databases. Each database uses different naming conventions, so PlainInfluence normalizes names and matches records to create unified profiles.

Influence Profile

An organization's combined view on PlainInfluence showing PAC contributions, lobbying spending, and federal contract awards on a single page.