[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 26USC9002]
TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
Subtitle H--Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns
CHAPTER 95--PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND
Sec. 9002. Definitions
For purposes of this chapter--
(1) The term ``authorized committee'' means, with respect to the
candidates of a political party for President and Vice President of
the United States, any political committee which is authorized in
writing by such candidates to incur expenses to further the election
of such candidates. Such authorization shall be addressed to the
chairman of such political committee, and a copy of such
authorization shall be filed by such candidates with the Commission.
Any withdrawal of any authorization shall also be in writing and
shall be addressed and filed in the same manner as the
authorization.
(2) The term ``candidate'' means with respect to any
presidential election, an individual who (A) has been nominated for
election to the office of President of the United States or the
office of Vice President of the United States by a major party, or
(B) has qualified to have his name on the election ballot (or to
have the names of electors pledged to him on the election ballot) as
the candidate of a political party for election to either such
office in 10 or more States. For purposes of paragraphs (6) and (7)
of this section and purposes of section 9004(a)(2), the term
``candidate'' means, with respect to any preceding presidential
election, an individual who received popular votes for the office of
President in such election. The term ``candidate'' shall not include
any individual who has ceased actively to seek election to the
office of President of the United States or to the office of Vice
President of the United States, in more than one State.
(3) The term ``Commission'' means the Federal Election
Commission established by section 309(a)(1) of the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971.
(4) The term ``eligible candidates'' means the candidates of a
political party for President and Vice President of the United
States who have met all applicable conditions for eligibility to
receive payments under this chapter set forth in section 9003.
(5) The term ``fund'' means the Presidential Election Campaign
Fund established by section 9006(a).
(6) The term ``major party'' means, with respect to any
presidential election, a political party whose candidate for the
office of President in the preceding presidential election received,
as the candidate of such party, 25 percent or more of the total
number of popular votes received by all candidates for such office.
(7) The term ``minor party'' means, with respect to any
presidential election, a political party whose candidate for the
office of President in the preceding presidential election received,
as the candidate of such party, 5 percent or more but less than 25
percent of the total number of popular votes received by all
candidates for such office.
(8) The term ``new party'' means with respect to any
presidential election, a political party which is neither a major
party nor a minor party.
(9) The term ``political committee'' means any committee,
association, or organization (whether or not incorporated) which
accepts contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of
influencing, or attempting to influence, the nomination or election
of one or more individuals to Federal, State, or local elective
public office.
(10) The term ``presidential election'' means the election of
presidential and vice-presidential electors.
(11) The term ``qualified campaign expense'' means an expense--
(A) incurred (i) by the candidate of a political party for
the office of President to further his election to such office
or to further the election of the candidate of such political
party for the office of Vice President, or both (ii) by the
candidate of a political party for the office of Vice President
to further his election to such office or to further the
election of the candidate of such political party for the office
of President, or both, or (iii) by an authorized committee of
the candidates of a political party for the offices of President
and Vice President to further the election of either or both of
such candidates to such offices,
(B) incurred within the expenditure report period (as
defined in paragraph (12)), or incurred before the beginning of
such period to the extent such expense is for property,
services, or facilities used during such period, and
(C) neither the incurring nor payment of which constitutes a
violation of any law of the United States or of the State in
which such expense is incurred or paid.
An expense shall be considered as incurred by a candidate or an
authorized committee if it is incurred by a person authorized by
such candidate or such committee, as the case may be, to incur such
expense on behalf of such candidate or such committee. If an
authorized committee of the candidates of a political party for
President and Vice President of the United States also incurs
expenses to further the election of one or more other individuals to
Federal, State, or local elective public office, expenses incurred
by such committee which are not specifically to further the election
of such other individual or individuals shall be considered as
incurred to further the election of such candidates for President
and Vice President in such proportion as the Commission prescribes
by rules or regulations.
(12) The term ``expenditure report period'' with respect to any
presidential election means--
(A) in the case of a major party, the period beginning with
the first day of September before the election, or, if, earlier,
with the date on which such major party at its national
convention nominated its candidate for election to the office of
President of the United States, and ending 30 days after the
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