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Are "Civic league or organization," and "promotion of social welfare," defined in the statute? Because, an organization instituted to raise awareness of how a return to our Constitutional principals would benefit society could, be construed as a "Civic league or organization not organized for profit but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare."
IRC 501(c)(4) provides for exemption of:
Civic leagues or organizations not organized for profit but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare.
Local associations of employees, the membership of which is limited to the employees of a designated person or persons in a particular municipality and the net earnings of which are devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes.
The statutory terms disclose that IRC 501(c)(4) embraces two general classifications:
a. Social welfare organizations, and
b. Local associations of employees.
So how is 501 c status applicable to political groups?
On the other hand, one could ask if "Organizing For Action," a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization associated with the Obama campaign met with the same onerous and burdensome vetting process to which conservative groups have apparently been subjected. Hint: It was not. In fact, it's approval was fast-tracked by the IRS.
We might agree that overtly political organizations should not be allowed to qualify for non-profit status but, whatever the rules, they need to be applied equally.
Link on the fast track? (I am not really expecting you to deliver with facts)
Rove's group had no more difficulty than Bill Burton's.