Independence is factual, not a name an organization gives itself. Federal coordination analysis examines who paid, what kind of communication was distributed, and what interaction occurred with a candidate or party. Requests, material involvement, shared nonpublic information, or certain common-vendor conduct can matter. Using a candidate's publicly available speeches does not by itself show coordination. If the spender and campaign jointly plan the audience and content, routing the bill through an outside vendor does not restore independence.

An independent-expenditure-only committee, commonly called a Super PAC, may accept unlimited contributions for lawful independent spending, including funds from individuals, corporations, and labor organizations. It may not make direct contributions to federal candidates or coordinate its expenditures with them. "Unlimited" therefore describes fundraising for the committee's independent purpose; it does not erase registration, reporting, disclaimer, foreign-national, government-contractor, or coordination rules that otherwise apply.

Super PACs are openly political. Their officers and donors may endorse a candidate, and their advertisements may use express advocacy. The restriction concerns operational independence, not ideological neutrality. A hybrid committee can maintain a limited-contribution account and a separate independent-spending account, but separation rules prevent unlimited funds from becoming direct candidate money. Independent expenditures also require reporting and sponsor identification under applicable federal rules. Compare the actor and transaction: a traditional PAC can send a regulated candidate contribution; a Super PAC finances independent advocacy; another person or organization can also make an independent expenditure without becoming a Super PAC.

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