Code of Massachusetts Regulations
970 CMR - OFFICE OF CAMPAIGN AND POLITICAL FINANCE
Title 970 CMR 4.00 - Public Finance Regulations
Section 4.03 - Definitions

Terms used in 970 CMR 4.00 shall have the meanings provided in M.G.L. c. 55 or 55C unless the term is specifically defined in 970 CMR 4.03 or the context otherwise requires.

Campaign Expenditure Limit means the self-imposed expenditure limit established by a candidate or a candidate team pursuant to M.G.L. c. 55C, § 1A(b) and (c) or the statutory expenditure limit established by M.G.L. c. 55C, § 1A(a).

Candidate means a candidate for the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer and receiver general and auditor as defined by M.G.L. c. 55C, § 1 and who files nomination papers with the secretary of state pursuant to M.G.L. c. 53 or who is appointed to fill a vacancy in a nomination for such office. The term "candidate" shall include, unless the context otherwise requires, the candidate committee organized on behalf of such candidate.

Candidate Team means the team for governor and lieutenant governor nominated at the state primary election during an election cycle or otherwise nominated in accordance with M.G.L. c. 53.

Depository Account means the bank account established by a candidate, as defined by M.G.L. c. 55, § 1, for statewide elective office under M.G.L. c. 55, § 19.

Director mean the Director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Election Cycle means the calendar year in which elections are held for statewide elective office and the next preceding calendar year.

Eligible Candidate means a candidate as defined in 970 CMR 4.03 whom the director certifies to the state treasurer as eligible for limited public financing pursuant to M.G.L. c. 55C, § 3.

General Election Campaign means the period which begins on the day after the primary election and concludes on the day of the general election except, in the case of an unenrolled candidate as defined in M.G.L. c. 53, § 6, such period shall begin on the day after the day for filing such unenrolled candidate's nomination papers and conclude on the day of the general election.

In-kind Contribution means a contribution of anything of value other than money.

Non-participating Candidate means a candidate who has filed the statement required by 970 CMR 4.04(1) stating that the candidate has not agreed to abide by the statutory expenditure limit applicable to such candidate for the primary and general election campaign.

Non-participating Candidate Team means a candidate team in which either the candidate for governor or the candidate for lieutenant governor has filed the statement required by 970 CMR 4.04(1) stating that the candidate has not agreed to abide by the statutory expenditure limit applicable to the candidate for governor or the candidate for lieutenant governor as the case may be for the primary election campaign and the statutory expenditure limit applicable to a candidate team for the general election campaign.

Participating Candidate means a candidate who has filed the statement required by 970 CMR 4.04(1) stating that the candidate has agreed to abide by the statutory expenditure limit applicable to such candidate for the primary and general election campaign.

Participating Candidate Team means a candidate team in which the candidate for governor and the candidate for lieutenant governor have each filed the statement required by 970 CMR 4.04 ( 1) stating that the candidate for governor or the candidate for lieutenant governor as the case may be has agreed to abide by the statutory expenditure limit applicable to the candidate for governor or the candidate for lieutenant governor as the case maybe for the primary election campaign and applicable to a candidate team for the general election campaign.

Primary Election Campaign means the period which begins on the day after the last day for filing a candidate's nomination papers with the secretary of state pursuant to M.G.L. c. 53 and concludes on the day of the primary election.

Qualifying Contribution means any monetary contribution made by an individual and deposited in the depository account of a candidate, as defined by M.G.L. c. 55, § 1, during the election cycle provided that the contribution does not exceed an individual's qualifying contribution limit as defined by 970 CMR 4.03 and complies with the requirements of 970 CMR 4.05. A qualifying contribution shall not include a contribution:

(a) made in the form of a loan;

(b) refunded or intended to be refunded to a contributor;

(c) uncollected due to lack of sufficient funds or for other reasons; or

(d) prohibited by M.G.L. c. 55, 970 CMR 1.00 or any other law or regulation.

Qualifying Contribution Limit means any qualifying contribution to a candidate which is equal to or less than $250, or, when added to any previously submitted contribution made by the same individual to that candidate during an election cycle, is equal to or less than $250.

Self-imposed Expenditure Limit means the expenditure limits established by a candidate or a candidate pursuant to M.G.L. c. 55C, § 1 A(b) and 1 A(c).

Statutory Expenditure Limit means the expenditure limit established for a candidate or a candidate team by M.G.L. c. 55C, § 1 A(a).