What is a PAC?
A Political Action Committee (PAC) is a popular term for a political committee organized by like-minded people for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates
( PACs have been around since 1944 ).  The PAC's money must come from voluntary contributions from members rather than the member's dues treasury. PACs represent business, labor or ideological interests. PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee per election (primary, general, run-off or special). They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC. PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one individual.

What is  RPAC?
RPAC the REALTORS® Political Action Committee is the muscle behind the National Association of REALTORS®. RPAC represents politically active REALTORS® that members of Congress and political leaders want as their friends because they usually broker influence and money.

Who establishes and implements RPAC policy?
Much of RPAC's success is due to the high degree of organization that characterizes the REALTORS® Political Action Committee at every level. Leading the National RPAC organization are the National RPAC Trustees. The Trustees establish and implement RPAC policy in accordance with the RPAC bylaws and NAR policy as established by the NAR Board of Directors. The Trustees are made up of REALTOR® volunteers from around the nation who are appointed by NAR leadership.

In short --- if you are not in line with the leaderships political views, you are not going to be appointed. Others that are appointed frequently have already established themselves in the political arena and are appointed to share their already established political power. Most decisions are made at the committee level with no real effort to solicit the opinions of the membership at large.

Who may be solicited for RPAC contributions?
According to federal election law, RPAC can solicit only individual members -- i.e., non-corporate members of NAR and their families. The term "members" means all individuals who currently satisfy the requirements for membership in any one of the local, state, and/or the National Association and regularly pay dues.

Executive, administrative and management personnel of the local, state and/or national associations are also considered under the NAR constitution to be members of the association and are open for solicitation even though they may not pay association dues.
Contributions used for political purposes are not tax deductible on your federal income taxes.

What process do the National Trustees use when determining contributions to candidates?
The National Trustees' policy is to act only on requests sent from state associations and signed off on by the state trustees. Once the national trustees receive these requests, they have four options: Amend, Approve, Deny or Defer.

Upon what criteria does the National RPAC base its decision to support federal candidates?
1) Recommendations from State RPAC Trustees,
2) NAR congressional voting records and analyses of incumbent members of Congress, and      
3) campaign intelligence reports provided by the NAR political and legislative staff.

Will the National RPAC Trustees contribute to both candidates in a race?
No. The National RPAC Trustees' policy is to only contribute to one candidate in any given election. However, the use of In-State Reception funds and D.C. Reception Funds does not necessarily count as a dual contribution if a challenger is supported by the National RPAC.
Again, these are relationship-building monies.

What process do the Tennessee Trustees use when determining contributions to candidates?
The Tennessee Trustees' policy is to act only on requests sent from Local Associations and signed off on by the local trustees. Once the Tennessee Trustees receive these requests, they have four options: Amend, Approve, Deny or Defer.

Upon what criteria does the Tennessee RPAC base its decision to support state candidates?
1) Recommendations from RPAC Trustees,
2) Legislative voting records and analyses of incumbent members of the Legislature, and           
3) campaign intelligence reports provided by the TAR political and legislative staff