Contributions, expenditures, and the categories that matter

Contributions, expenditures, and the categories that matter

A contribution is money given to a campaign and is subject to limits and source restrictions. An independent expenditure is spending advocating for or against a candidate made without coordination with that candidate, and is not subject to the same limits. The coordination line is what most disputes turn on.

Itemisation thresholds matter when reading a report. Contributions below the threshold are reported in aggregate rather than individually, so a filing showing a large unitemised total is not concealment — it is a large number of small donors, reported as the rules require.