Independent expenditures are funds spent by individuals, groups, and, starting in 1996, political parties to promote a specific message about issues or candidates during a campaign. Provided these efforts are not coordinated with a candidate or his or her campaign organization, the law regards them as political expression protected by the First Amendment. As more and more groups and private citizens have used independent expenditures to influence politics, however, some reformers have set their targets on regulating this money.
Critics object to the growing use of independent expenditures to influence political campaigns.
In theory, independent expenditures are totally distinct from the efforts of the candidates they help. In practice, however, independent expenditures are seen as just one more way for special interests and rich citizens to get around direct contribution limits, curry favor with candidates, and thus violate the spirit if not the letter of the law. Put yourself in your senator's shoes. That's because monitoring this form of spending and guaranteeing that it has not been coordinated with campaigns have been difficult enforcement problems. Check the manual for the definition of independent expenditures.