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These organizations must report their contributions and expenditures to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  

These organizations must report their contributions and expenditures to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  

"Money donated to 527 groups -- the name comes from the section of the federal tax code under which the organizations operate -- must be disclosed under election law. Unlike contributions to candidates or major parties, there are no limits on what an individual can give."<ref name="wp">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053101999.html</ref>

"Money donated to 527 groups -- the name comes from the section of the federal tax code under which the organizations operate -- must be disclosed under election law. Unlike contributions to candidates or major parties, there are no limits on what an individual can give."<ref name="wp">https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053101999.html</ref>

This is considered to be a [[loophole]] in the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, which sharply limited the ability for people to spend money to influence elections.  Candidates themselves can always spend unlimited amounts of their own money, but contributions by others to candidacies are limited to a maximum of a few thousand dollars.  527 groups bypass that limit by raising huge sums from individuals.

This is considered to be a [[loophole]] in the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, which sharply limited the ability for people to spend money to influence elections.  Candidates themselves can always spend unlimited amounts of their own money, but contributions by others to candidacies are limited to a maximum of a few thousand dollars.  527 groups bypass that limit by raising huge sums from individuals.

Spending by 527 groups has become enormous, dwarfing other types of spending in elections.  In 2006, the spending by 527 groups was overwhelmingly on the side of [[Democratic]] candidates, and [[Democrats]] have thus opposed limiting them.  All three [[Democrats]] on the [[FEC]] voted against regulating these groups, despite a court order requesting action.<ref name="wp" />

Spending by 527 groups has become enormous, dwarfing other types of spending in elections.  In 2006, the spending by 527 groups was overwhelmingly on the side of [[Democratic]] candidates, and [[Democrats]] have thus opposed limiting them.  All three [[Democrats]] on the [[FEC]] voted against regulating these groups, despite a court order requesting action.<ref name="wp" />

There are indications, however, that [[Republican]]-allied '''527 groups''' may begin to be influential in the 2008 election.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/19/AR2008011902309.html</ref>

There are indications, however, that [[Republican]]-allied '''527 groups''' may begin to be influential in the 2008 election.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/19/AR2008011902309.html</ref>

== References ==

== References ==