This article is about starting a Political Action Committee (PAC) in the state of Michigan. What this means is that your PAC will be able to support, oppose, or contribute to candidates for state offices from township trustee to governor. Your PAC, however, can not influence federal elections for congress or the presidency.

More broadly, a PAC is a group of people who can influence elections in a certain way.  PACs can also support or oppose ballot initiatives.

PACs are good for people who want to get together and unite behind a common cause. There are PACs for a variety of issues and interests. Some PACs you may have heard of on the national level are MoveOn.org or Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC. Some well known PACs in Michigan are Michigan Equality and the Michigan Education Association. If you’re interested in knowing more about Michigan’s top PACs check out the Michigan Campaign Finance Network‘s website.

There are two types of PACs in Michigan Independent and Political committees. A political committee is formed to support or oppose one or more candidates and must observe the contribution limits as individuals. An independent committee, however, must expend funds to oppose or support at least three candidates for office.  Independent committees can contribute ten times the amount as a political committee or an individual and must have at least 25 contributors.

PACs can receive an unlimited amount of money from an individual.  PACs have to file three reports per year unless the PAC has a reporting waiver. If your PAC has a reporting waiver and ever exceeds $1000 in contributions, it must begin filing regular reports. You can read all the specific rules in this handbook.

Before you file your statement of organization, you’ll need to figure out the purpose and organization of your PAC.  Are you focusing on social issues or fiscal issues? Are you going to endorse candidates? How will you decide who to endorse? Will your PAC be governed by a steering committee?

When you name your PAC you should try to come up with something that conveys your PAC’s mission, even if it is a broad one such as promoting conservative or liberal values. Don’t choose a name that has already been used; you can search existing PACs here.  If you are planning on having a website, you’ll want to try to come up with something that hasn’t been taken already.

To officially organize your PAC you’ll need to fill out the statement of organization. Where you file it depends on what the scope of your PAC is; if you only want to influence elections in your county, you can file it at your county clerk.  If you want to influence elections at the state level or with districts that cross county lines, you’ll need to file it with the Bureau of Elections in Lansing (don’t worry, you don’t have to go there; you can just mail it to the address on the second page of the statement of organization).

To accept donations in your PAC’s name you’ll obviously need a business checking account.  You would think that your statement of organization would be sufficient enough to open an account, but for me it wasn’t at Fifth Third.  If your bank doesn’t take the statement of organization, you’ll need to file a DBA with your county clerk and use that instead.

That’s basically it.  If you have any questions you can contact the Michigan Secretary of State – they’re really good at getting back to you. One time I had a question and they even called me.