§ 6421. Definition
TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT DIVISION 6: ELECTIONS § 6421. Definition. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, the definitions set forth herein shall govern the construction of this Article. (a) “Campaign Statement of Account” means an itemized statement prepared by a candidate or potential candidate showing the specific source, names of contributors and amount of contributions and expenses, including the names of persons receiving such expense, except where the aggregate fair market value of an expense or contribution is less than five-hundred dollars. (b) “Candidate” means an individual who filed nomination papers or whose nomination has been certified to the Commission by a political party or commit- tee under the provision of Chapter 3 of this part. (c) “Potential candidate” means anyone who receives a contribution given or received in contemplation that he or she may become a candidate, whether or not that eventually occurs. (d) “Committee” means a group of individuals organized for the purpose of aiding the campaign of any candidate. (e) “Contribution” means a payment, gift, subscription, assessment, contract, payment of services, dues, advance, pledge or promise of any money or anything of value, whether or not legally enforceable, to a candidate, committee or holder of an elective office made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any candidate, or for the qualification, passage, or defeat of any measure. The term “contribution” includes the purchase of tickets for events, such as dinners, luncheons, rallies, and similar fundraising events; the candi- date’s own money or property used on behalf of its candidacy, the granting of discounts or rebates not available to the general public; or the granting of discounts or rebates by television and radio stations and newspapers not extended on an equal basis to all candidates for the same office; and any payments for the services of any person serving as an agent of a candidate or committee by a person other than the candidates or committee, or a person whose expenditures the candidates or committee must report under this Chapter. The term “contribu- tion” further includes any transfer of anything of value received by a committee from another committee. The term “contribution” shall not include loans, except forgiveness of loans or payment of loans, volunteer personal services provided without compensation, in payments made by an individual for his travel expenses if such payments are made voluntarily without any understanding or agreement that they shall be, directly or indirectly, repaid to him, or the use of private property when utilized directly by the owner or lessee thereof in the course of rendering such services. The term “contribution” does not include amounts received pursuant to a pledge or promise to the extent those amounts have been previously reported as a contribution. The provisions of this subsection apply to all potential candidates as defined in subsection (c). (f) “Expenses” means funds promised or expended by a person in aid of the campaign of a candidate or individual prior to his becoming a candidate and services or property promised or furnished by a person in aid of the campaign of
TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT DIVISION 6: ELECTIONS a candidate or individual prior to his becoming a candidate. “Expenses” shall not mean expenditures for the operation of a permanent political party headquarters or for general voter registration drives. Furthermore, “expenses” shall not mean editorial comments made in connection with the normal publication of a newspa- per or other periodical or the normal programming of a broadcasting station. (g) “Election” means any primary, local, special, or general election. (h) “Person” means any individual, including a candidate, committee, associa- tion, political party, partnership, or other group. “Person” shall not mean a domestic, foreign or alien corporation. Source: Repealed and reenacted by PL 12-18, § 2 (6421); (a) amended by PL 15-6, § 1. Commission Comment: The Commission removed figures where they were a repetition of words in subsection (a) above pursuant to the authority granted by 1 CMC § 3806(e). PL 15-6 was enacted on April 26, 2006, and con- tained severability and savings clause provisions.
Source: CNMI Law Revision Commission