[5] The goal of these committees is to maximize the number of seats under their party's control in a given chamber and to support incumbent members of their caucuses.
In addition to opportunity, committees factor campaign and candidate quality, incumbency, and regional goals when weighing spending decisions.
The committees contribute directly to candidates' campaigns, while also providing campaign-related services that require specialized skills or expertise, like research or targeting.
For example, party committees may share information about candidates in targeted elections in order to encourage members of the existing caucuses and allied organizations to endorse or donate to their campaign.
[19] The individual contribution limit to a single national party committee is indexed to inflation and increases in odd-numbered years.
[22] PACs, representing interest groups, industries, or businesses, also provide a major source of funds for party committees.
[23] Candidates can make unlimited transfers from personal campaign committees to party organizations, as well as a maximum contribution from any leadership PAC account.
[6] Prior to the 1950s, many state and local party committees were a source of patronage jobs, but civil service reforms led to the decline of those systems.
Campaign finance watchdogs have criticized transfers between state and national party committees for creating loopholes to avoid contribution limits.
Similar to federal party committees, these organizations recruit candidates and pool resources, staff, and expertise in order to run more effective campaigns.