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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 9002. Definitions

In force Text current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026) release point 119-121

Official text, no changes From the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, release point 119-121 (current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026)). Compare it with the official text at uscode.house.gov (external site).

Cite as 26 U.S.C. § 9002

At a glance

Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.

Status
In force
Added
December 10, 1971 by Pub. L. 92–178
Last amended
December 29, 2007 by Pub. L. 110–172
Amendments
3 dated changes in the source credit
Length
12 subsections · 1,029 words · about 4 min to read
Defines
13 terms
Cross-references
cites 3; cited by 2 Code sections and 0 other regulations
Regulations
8 issued under this section
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 306(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 date of the presidential election; and
(B) in the case of a party which is not a major party, the same period as the expenditure report period of the major party which has the shortest expenditure report period for such presidential election under subparagraph (A).

(Added Pub. L. 92–178, title VIII, § 801, Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 563; amended Pub. L. 93–443, title IV, § 404(c)(1)–(3), Oct. 15, 1974, 88 Stat. 1292; Pub. L. 94–283, title I, § 115(c)(1), title III, § 306(a)(1), May 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 495, 499; Pub. L. 110–172, § 11(a)(42)(A), Dec. 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 2488.)

Terms defined here

Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 9002

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.

This section cites 3 other sections

Cited by 2 Code sections

Amendment history

From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 110–172
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 94–283
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 93–443
  4. Added by Pub. L. 92–178

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle H Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns
  2. Chapter 95 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND

Nearby sections

Official notes

Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 306(a)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, referred to in par. (3), is classified to section 30106(a)(1) of Title 52, Voting and Elections.

Amendments

2007—Par. (3). Pub. L. 110–172 substituted “section 306(a)(1)” for “section 309(a)(1)”.

1976—Par. (2). Pub. L. 94–283, § 306(a)(1), inserted provision that “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.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 94–283, § 115(c)(1), substituted “309(a)(1)” for “310(a)(1)”.

1974—Par. (1). Pub. L. 93–443, § 404(c)(2), substituted “Commission” for “Comptroller General”.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 93–443, § 404(c)(1), substituted definition of “Commission” for “Comptroller General”.

Par. (11). Pub. L. 93–443, § 404(c)(3), substituted “Commission” for “Comptroller General” in third sentence.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–283, title III, § 306(c), May 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 501, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 9003, 9032, and 9033 of this title] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [May 11, 1976].”

Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–443 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1974, see section 410(c)(1) of Pub. L. 93–443, set out as a note under section 30101 of Title 52, Voting and Elections.