Glossary of Terms
The definitions in this Glossary of Terms 
are made available to define the terminology used within the ELEC's website. These definitions are not the legal definition of terms used within the Commission's Regulations found atN.J.A.C. 19:25-1, et seq.
48-HOUR NOTICE – Contributions received after the last reporting period prior to an election and up to and including the day of an election in excess of $1,000 in the aggregate from one source must be reported in writing within 48-hours of its receipt. Frequently referred to as “last minute contributions.”
48-HOUR NOTICE – Expenditures made to support or defeat a candidate or public question, in excess of $1,000 in the aggregate, starting with the last reporting period prior to an election and up to and including the day of an election must be reported in writing within 48-hours of the expenditure.
ADVISORY OPINION – A mechanism utilized by the Commission through its legal counsel, to render advisory opinions for candidate committees as to whether or not a specific set of contemplated facts and circumstances would constitute a violation or would affect the reporting requirements of a present or potential filing entity.
CANDIDATE – an individual seeking election to a public office of this State or of a county, municipality, or school or fire district at any election. Included in this definition is an individual who runs unopposed, loses an election, withdraws from an election, or raises and/or spends money to run for elected office but never appears on the ballot. If elected to office, the officeholder remains a candidate throughout the period of time the office is held.
COMMISSION – the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
CONTINUING POLITICAL COMMITTEE (CPC) – includes any group of two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership, or any other incorporated or unincorporated association, including a political club, political action committee, civic association or other organization, which in any calendar year contributes or expects to contribute at least $4,300 to aid or promote the candidacy of an individual, or the candidacies of individuals, for elective public office, or the passage or defeat of a public question or public questions, and which may be expected to make contributions toward such aid or promotion or passage or defeat during a subsequent election, provided that the group, corporation, partnership, association or other organization has been determined by the commission to be a continuing political committee in accordance with N.J.S.A. 19:44A-8(b). Frequently referred to as political action committee (PAC) or special interest group.
CONTRIBUTION – includes every loan, gift, subscription, advance or transfer of money or other thing of value, including any, in-kind contribution, made to or on behalf of any candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee and any pledge or other commitment or assumption of liability to make such transfer. For purposes of reports required under the provisions of the act, any such commitment or assumption shall be deemed to have been a contribution upon the date when such commitment is made or liability assumed. Funds or other benefits received solely for the purpose of determining whether an individual should become a candidate are contributions.
CONTRIBUTOR – an individual, corporation, labor organization, association, group, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee or legislative-leadership committee making a contribution. “Contributor” does not include an unincorporated business entity, a partnership entity as defined in N.J.A.C. 19:25-11.10(b) or a limited liability company as defined in N.J.A.C. 19:25-11.10(c), which entities are not permitted to make contributions.
CURRENCY CONTRIBUTION – United States government notes and coins in circulation as a medium of exchange.
ELECTION TYPE – any primary, general, May municipal, June runoff, school board, fire commissioner or special election.
EXPENDITURE – includes every transfer of money or other thing of value, including any item of real or personal property, tangible or intangible, made by any candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee, or legislative leadership committee and any pledge or other commitment or assumption of liability to make such transfer. For purposes of reports required under the provisions of the act, any such commitment or assumption shall be deemed to have been an expenditure upon the date when such commitment is made or liability assumed. Payments or commitments made solely for the purpose of determining whether an individual should become a candidate are expenditures.
FILE OR FILED – deposited in the office of the Commission designated in N.J.A.C. 19:25-2.1.
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AGENT – (formally Legislative Agent) is any person who receives or agrees to receive, directly or indirectly, compensation, in money or anything of value (including reimbursement of his or her expenses where such reimbursement exceeds $100.00 in any three-month period), to influence legislation, regulation, or governmental processes, by direct or indirect communication with, or by making or authorizing, any expenditures providing a benefit to a member of the Legislature, legislative staff, the Governor, the Governor's staff, or any officer or staff member of the Executive Branch, or who holds himself or herself out as engaging in the business of influencing legislation, regulation, or governmental processes by such means, or who incident to his or her regular employment engages in influencing legislation, regulation, or governmental processes by such means. A governmental affairs agent also includes any person who receives or agrees to receive, directly or indirectly, compensation, in money or anything of value for the purpose of conducting communication with the general public, or who incident to his or her regular employment conducts communication with the general public, or who holds himself or herself out as engaging in the business of conducting communication with the general public.
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE – An expenditure made without the cooperation or prior consent of, or in consultation with or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate or any person or committee acting on behalf of a candidate, or an expenditure for a communication to aid the passage or defeat of a public question, which expenditure is made without consultation with or at the suggestion of any person or committee supporting or opposing a public question, is an independent expenditure.
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION – a contribution of goods or services received by a candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, political committee, continuing political committee, political party committee or legislative leadership committee, which contribution is paid for by a person or entity other than the recipient committee, but does not include services provided without compensation by an individual volunteering a part of or all of his or her time on behalf of a candidate or committee.
JOINT CANDIDATE COMMITTEE (JCC) – a committee established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-9(a) by at least two candidates for the same elective public offices in the same election in a legislative district, county, municipality or school or fire district, but not more candidates than the total number of the same elective public offices to be filled in that election, for the purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures. For the purposes of this definition, the offices of member of the Senate and members of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be the same elective public offices in a legislative district; the offices of member of the board of chosen County Commissioners and county executive shall be deemed to be the same elective public offices in a county; and the offices of mayor and member of the municipal governing body shall be deemed to be the same elective public offices in a municipality.
LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE (LLC) – a committee established, authorized to be established, or designated by the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly, or the Minority Leader of the General Assembly pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A- 10.1 for the purpose of receiving contributions and making expenditures.
LOBBYIST – any person, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor union, or any other organization that employs, retains, designates, engages or otherwise uses the services of any governmental affairs agent to influence legislation, regulation, or governmental processes.
LEGISLATIVE AGENT – see Governmental Affairs Agent.
NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF A POLITICAL PARTY – the principal organization supporting election activities of a State political party committee, which activities shall include the making of contributions to that State political party committee pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-11.4a(2). There shall be no more than a single national committee of a political party for each State political party committee.
PARTY COMMITTEE – see Political Party Committee.
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PAC) – Special interest group – See Continuing Political Committee above.
POLITICAL COMMITTEE – any group of two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership or any other incorporated or unincorporated association which is organized to or does aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate or candidates for public office, or which is organized to, or does aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election if the persons, corporation, partnership, or incorporated or unincorporated association raises or expends $1,800 or more to so aid or promote the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate or candidates or the passage or defeat of a public question. A group or association organized to promote the candidacy of one or more candidates or aid or defeat the passage of a public question, without a term of existence substantially longer than the campaign, is a political committee.
POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEE (PPC) – the State committee of a political party, as organized pursuant to N.J.S.A.19:5-4; any county committee of a political party, as organized pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:5-3; or any municipal committee of a political party, as organized pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:5-2.
PUBLIC QUESTION – any question, proposition or referendum (for example, a constitutional amendment, budget adoption or bond issue) required by the legislative or governing body of this State or any of its political subdivisions to be submitted by referendum procedure to the voters of the State or political subdivision for decision at elections.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP – see Continuing political committee.