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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

PAC \PAC\ (p[a^]k), n. [Acronynm from Political Action
Committee.] (Politics)
A {political action committee}, a committee formed by an
organization or special-interest group to raise money to
support candidates for office or to influence legislation. A
PAC provides a legal means for corporations in the U. S. to
support political candidates even when direct contributions
from corporations to candidates is forbidden by law. In
theory, the corporation may not itself contribute to a PAC,
but may pay the expenses of raising money from individuals.
PACs may also be formed by organizations other than
commercial corporations, such as trade associations.
[Acronym, U. S.]

Note: PACs became popular in the 1970's after campaign
finance reform laws put limits on the amount of money
which an individual can contribute to each candidate
for public office. In addition to simply supporting
candidates with specific viewpoints, the unstated
purpose of PACs is to make politicians aware of their
viewpoints, by aggregating sums of money into
significant single donations. This latter effect has
aroused criticism of PACs from reformers who feel that
large donations bias the political process.
[PJC]


Pac \Pac\ (p[a^]k), n.
A kind of moccasin, having the edges of the sole turned up
and sewed to the upper. --Knight.
[1913 Webster]