§ Miss. Code § 23-15-801Definitions

(a) "Election" shall mean a general, special, primary or runoff election.
(b) "Candidate" shall mean an individual who seeks nomination for election, or election, to
any elective office other than a federal elective office and for purposes of this article, an
individual shall be deemed to seek nomination for election, or election:
(i) If such individual has received contributions aggregating in excess of Two Hundred
Dollars ($200.00) or has made expenditures aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars
($200.00) or for a candidate for the Legislature or any statewide or state district office, by the
qualifying deadlines specified in Sections 23-15-299 and 23-15-977, whichever occurs first; or
(ii) If such individual has given his or her consent to another person to receive contributions
or make expenditures on behalf of such individual and if such person has received such
contributions aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) during a calendar year, or
has made such expenditures aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) during a
calendar year.
(c) "Political committee" shall mean any committee, party, club, association, political action
committee, campaign committee or other groups of persons or affiliated organizations which
receives contributions aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) during a
calendar year or which makes expenditures aggregating in excess of Two Hundred Dollars
($200.00) during a calendar year for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the
action of voters for or against the nomination for election, or election, of one or more candidates,
or balloted measures and shall, in addition, include each political party registered with the
Secretary of State.
(d) "Affiliated organization" shall mean any organization which is not a political committee,
but which directly or indirectly establishes, administers or financially supports a political
committee.
(e) (i) "Contribution" shall include any gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money
or anything of value made by any person or political committee for the purpose of influencing
any election for elective office or balloted measure;
(ii) "Contribution" shall not include the value of services provided without compensation by
any individual who volunteers on behalf of a candidate or political committee; or the cost of any
food or beverage for use in any candidate's campaign or for use by or on behalf of any political
committee of a political party;
(iii) "Contribution to a political party" includes any gift, subscription, loan, advance or
deposit of money or anything of value made by any person, political committee, or other
organization to a political party and to any committee, subcommittee, campaign committee,
political committee and other groups of persons and affiliated organizations of the political party.
(iv) "Contribution to a political party" shall not include the value of services provided without
compensation by any individual who volunteers on behalf of a political party or a candidate of a
political party.
(f) (i) "Expenditure" shall include any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance,
deposit, gift of money or anything of value, made by any person or political committee for the
purpose of influencing any balloted measure or election for elective office; and a written
contract, promise, or agreement to make an expenditure;
(ii) "Expenditure" shall not include any news story, commentary or editorial distributed
through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical
publication, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political
committee, or candidate; or nonpartisan activity designed to encourage individuals to vote or to
register to vote;
(iii) "Expenditure by a political party" includes 1. any purchase, payment, distribution, loan,
advance, deposit, gift of money or anything of value, made by any political party and by any
contractor, subcontractor, agent, and consultant to the political party; and 2. a written contract,
promise, or agreement to make such an expenditure.
(g) The term "identification" shall mean:
(i) In the case of any individual, the name, the mailing address, and the occupation of such
individual, as well as the name of his or her employer; and
(ii) In the case of any other person, the full name and address of such person.
(h) The term "political party" shall mean an association, committee or organization which
nominates a candidate for election to any elective office whose name appears on the election
ballot as the candidate of such association, committee or organization.
(i) The term "person" shall mean any individual, family, firm, corporation, partnership,
association or other legal entity.
(j) The term "independent expenditure" shall mean an expenditure by a person expressly
advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate which is made without
cooperation or consultation with any candidate or any authorized committee or agent of such
candidate, and which is not made in concert with or at the request or suggestion of any candidate
or any authorized committee or agent of such candidate.
(k) The term "clearly identified" shall mean that:
(i) The name of the candidate involved appears; or
(ii) A photograph or drawing of the candidate appears; or
(iii) The identity of the candidate is apparent by unambiguous reference.