Ms. Mannerud, who herself contributed $80,850 to the Democrats, was described by officials as a "fairly prominent and successful fund-raiser."

They are partly a way of showing thanks to construction companies, which contribute mightily to the Liberal Democrats.

Each of the five tribes that contributed the most to the Democrats in 1995 and 1996 had sought a favorable ruling from the Administration.

Mr. Herrera contributed $75,000 to the Democrats.

As of the last presidential election: American companies had contributed almost $214 million to the Democrats and Republicans.

In 1996, after the decision to scrap the project, the tribes opposing the Interior permit contributed $230,000 to the Democrats.

Both paramilitary groups contributed to the Democrats' regaining control in the state legislatures in the late 1870s.

Mr. Riady did not contribute any money to the Democrats in either 1995 or 1996.

It would be interesting to see how much these executives' companies contributed to the Republicans compared to what they contributed to the Democrats.

Mr. Riady and his wife, Aileen, contributed $520,525 to the Democrats in 1992, election commission records show.