Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/13pdf/12-536_e1pf.pdf
Page Number: 70.0

Cite as:  572 U. S. ____ (2014) 

19 

BREYER, J., dissenting 

tees (PACs).  Campaign finance law prohibits an individual 
from contributing (1) more than $5,200 to any candidate in 
a federal election cycle, and (2) more than $5,000 to a PAC 
in a calendar year.  2 U. S. C. §§441a(a)(1)(A), (C); 78 Fed. 
Reg. 8532.  It also prohibits (3) any PAC from contributing 
more  than  $10,000  to  any  candidate  in  an  election  cycle.
§441(a)(2)(A).  But the law does not prohibit an individual 
from  contributing  (within  the  current  $123,200  biannual
aggregate limit) $5,000 to each of an unlimited total num­
ber of PACs.  And there, so to speak, lies the rub. 

Here is how,  without  any aggregate limits, a party  will
be  able  to  channel  $2  million  from  each  of  ten  Rich  Do- 
nors to each of ten Embattled Candidates.  Groups of party 
supporters—individuals,  corporations,  or  trade  unions—
create 200 PACs.  Each PAC claims it will use the funds it 
raises  to  support  several  candidates  from  the  party,
though  it  will  favor  those  who  are  most  endangered. 
(Each PAC qualifies for “multicandidate” status because it 
has received contributions from more than 50 persons and 
has made contributions to five federal candidates  at some 
point previously.  §441a(a)(4); 11 CFR §100.5(e)(3)).  Over 
a  2-year  election  cycle,  Rich  Donor  One  gives  $10,000  to 
each  PAC  ($5,000  per  year)—yielding  $2  million  total. 
Rich  Donor  2  does  the  same.  So,  too,  do  the  other  eight 
Rich  Donors.    This  brings  their  total  donations  to  $20 
million,  disbursed  among  the  200  PACs.    Each  PAC  will 
have  collected  $100,000,  and  each  can  use  its  money  to
write ten  checks of $10,000—to each of the ten most Em­
battled  Candidates  in  the  party  (over  two  years).    See 
Appendix B, Table 3, infra, at 41.  Every Embattled Can­
didate,  receiving  a  $10,000  check  from  200  PACs,  will 
have collected $2 million. 

The  upshot  is  that  ten  Rich  Donors  will  have  contrib-
uted  $2  million  each,  and  ten  Embattled  Candidates  will 
have  collected  $2  million  each.  In  this  example,  unlike 
Example  Two,  the  recipient  candidates  may  not  know