{
  "schema_version": 1,
  "methodology_version": "fec-committee-composition/v1",
  "generated_at": "2026-06-22",
  "title": "Six in Ten Federal Committees Answer to No Candidate",
  "source": {
    "name": "FEC Committee Master File",
    "table": "public.fec_committees",
    "snapshot_date": "2026-06-22",
    "publisher": "Federal Election Commission",
    "license": "U.S. Government Works (public domain)",
    "source_file": "cm.txt inside cm26.zip",
    "source_url": "https://www.fec.gov/files/bulk-downloads/2026/cm26.zip"
  },
  "totals": {
    "total_committees": 19954,
    "candidate_committees": 7954,
    "non_candidate_committees": 11988,
    "blank_designation": 12,
    "no_treasurer_name": 976,
    "distinct_state_values": 58
  },
  "by_designation": [
    {
      "designation": "U",
      "label": "Unauthorized - PACs/super PACs",
      "count": 8397,
      "pct": 42.1,
      "bucket": "non_candidate"
    },
    {
      "designation": "P",
      "label": "Principal campaign committee",
      "count": 7574,
      "pct": 38,
      "bucket": "candidate"
    },
    {
      "designation": "B",
      "label": "Lobbyist/Registrant PAC",
      "count": 1571,
      "pct": 7.9,
      "bucket": "non_candidate"
    },
    {
      "designation": "J",
      "label": "Joint fundraising committee",
      "count": 1143,
      "pct": 5.7,
      "bucket": "non_candidate"
    },
    {
      "designation": "D",
      "label": "Leadership PAC",
      "count": 877,
      "pct": 4.4,
      "bucket": "non_candidate"
    },
    {
      "designation": "A",
      "label": "Authorized by candidate",
      "count": 380,
      "pct": 1.9,
      "bucket": "candidate"
    },
    {
      "designation": "(blank)",
      "label": "No designation recorded",
      "count": 12,
      "pct": 0.1,
      "bucket": "blank"
    }
  ],
  "treasurer_context": "master-file records lacking a treasurer name. 52 U.S.C. §30102(a) requires every political committee to have a treasurer, and a committee may not accept contributions or make expenditures without one."
}