[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 11, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2009]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 11CFR100.3]

[Page 49]
 
                       TITLE 11--FEDERAL ELECTIONS
 
                 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
 
PART 100_SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS (2 U.S.C. 431)--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A_General Definitions
 
Sec. 100.3  Candidate (2 U.S.C. 431(2)).

    (a) Definition. Candidate means an individual who seeks nomination 
for election, or election, to federal office. An individual becomes a 
candidate for Federal office whenever any of the following events occur:
    (1) The individual has received contributions aggregating in excess 
of $5,000 or made expenditures aggregating in excess of $5,000.
    (2) The individual has given his or her consent to another person to 
receive contributions or make expenditures on behalf of that individual 
and such person has received contributions aggregating in excess of 
$5,000 or made expenditures aggregating in excess of $5,000.
    (3) After written notification by the Commission that any other 
person has received contributions aggregating in excess of $5,000 or 
made expenditures aggregating in excess of $5,000 on the individual's 
behalf, the individual fails to disavow such activity by letter to the 
Commission within 30 days of receipt of the notification.
    (4) The aggregate of contributions received under 11 CFR 100.3(a) 
(1), (2), and (3), in any combination thereof, exceeds $5,000, or the 
aggregate of expenditures made under 11 CFR 100.3(a) (1), (2), and (3), 
in any combination thereof, exceeds $5,000.
    (b) Election cycle. For purposes of determining whether an 
individual is a candidate under this section, contributions or 
expenditures shall be aggregated on an election cycle basis. An election 
cycle shall begin on the first day following the date of the previous 
general election for the office or seat which the candidate seeks, 
unless contributions or expenditures are designated for another election 
cycle. For an individual who receives contributions or makes 
expenditures designated for another election cycle, the election cycle 
shall begin at the time such individual, or any other person acting on 
the individual's behalf, first receives contributions or makes 
expenditures in connection with the designated election. The election 
cycle shall end on the date on which the general election for the office 
or seat that the individual seeks is held.