Final answer:
Super PACs can contribute unlimited funds to support political candidates indirectly, while individuals are limited in their direct contributions. Current campaign finance laws aim to balance political influence with caps on individual donations, and Super PACs operate independently under free speech protections established by the Supreme Court.
Step-by-step explanation:
No individual or entity can give unlimited money directly to political candidates due to campaign finance laws. However, Super PACs (Political Action Committees) can raise and spend unlimited sums of money independently to advocate for or against political candidates, following the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United v. FEC case which ruled that such spending is a form of protected free speech.
The established limits are a reflection of efforts to maintain some balance and fairness in political campaigning, while the creation of Super PACs has enabled the mobilization of large financial resources in politics. This has sparked concern among many that such financial influence could lead to an imbalance in political power and impact democratic processes. It's important to note that direct contributions to candidates by individuals are capped at $2,900 per election, but collective small-donor contributions can still significantly impact election outcomes.