Ariz. Rev. Stat. » Title 16
Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section AZ-LEGazleg.gov (official) JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Advertisement" means information or materials, other than nonpaid social media messages, that are mailed, e-mailed, posted, distributed, published, displayed, delivered, broadcasted or placed in a communication medium and that are for the purpose of influencing an election.

2. "Affiliate" means any organization that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a corporation, limited liability company or labor organization.

3. "Agent" means any person who has actual authority, either express or implied, to represent or make decisions on behalf of another person.

4. "Ballot measure expenditure" means an expenditure made by a person that expressly advocates the support or opposition of a clearly identified ballot measure.

5. "Best effort" means that a committee treasurer or treasurer's agent makes at least one written effort, including an attempt by e-mail, text message, private message through social media or other similar communication, or at least one oral effort that is documented in writing to identify the contributor of an incomplete contribution.

6. "Calendar quarter" means a period of three consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31.

7. "Candidate" means an individual who receives contributions or makes expenditures or who gives consent to another person to receive contributions or make expenditures on behalf of that individual in connection with the candidate's nomination, election or retention for any public office.

8. "Candidate committee" includes the candidate.

9. "Clearly identified candidate" means that the name or a description, image, photograph or drawing of the candidate appears or the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent by unambiguous reference.

10. "Committee" means a candidate committee, a political action committee or a political party.

11. "Contribution" means any money, advance, deposit or other thing of value that is made to a person for the purpose of influencing an election.  Contribution includes:

(a) A contribution that is made to retire campaign debt from a previous election cycle.

(b) Money or the fair market value of anything that is directly or indirectly provided to an elected official for the specific purpose of defraying the expense of communications with constituents.

(c) The full purchase price of any item from a committee.

(d) A loan that is made to a committee for the purpose of influencing an election, to the extent the loan remains outstanding.

12. "Control" means to possess, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or to cause the direction of the management or policies of another organization, whether through voting power, ownership, contract or otherwise.

13. "Coordinate", "coordinated" or "coordination" means the coordination of an expenditure as prescribed by section 16-922.

14. "Coordinated party expenditures" means expenditures that are made by a political party to directly pay for goods or services on behalf of its nominee.

15. "District office" means an elected office established or organized pursuant to title 15 or 48.

16. "Earmarked" means a designation, instruction or encumbrance between the transferor of a contribution and a transferee that requires the transferee to make a contribution to a clearly identified candidate.

17. "Election" means any election for any ballot measure in this state or any candidate election during a primary, general, recall, special or runoff election for any office in this state other than a federal office and a political party office prescribed by chapter 5, article 2 of this title.

18. "Election cycle" means the two-year period beginning on January 1 in the year after a statewide general election and ending on December 31 in the year of a statewide general election or, for cities and towns, the two-year period beginning on the first day of the calendar quarter after the calendar quarter in which the city's or town's second, runoff or general election is scheduled and ending on the last day of the calendar quarter in which the city's or town's immediately following second, runoff or general election is scheduled, however that election is designated by the city or town.  For the purposes of a:

(a) Recall election, "election cycle" means the period between issuance of a recall petition serial number and the latest of the following:

(i) The date of the recall election that is called pursuant to section 19-209.

(ii) The date that a resignation is accepted pursuant to section 19-208.

(iii) The date that the receiving officer provides notice pursuant to section 19-208.01 that the number of signatures is insufficient.

(b) Special election, "election cycle" means the period between the date of issuance of a proclamation or order calling the special election and the last day of the calendar quarter in which the special election is held.

19. "Employee" means an individual who is entitled to compensation for labor or services performed for the individual's employer.

20. "Employer" means any person that pays compensation to and directs the labor or services of any individual in the course of employment.

21. "Enforcement officer" means the attorney general or the county, city or town attorney with authority to collect fines or issue penalties with respect to a given election pursuant to section 16-938.

22. "Entity" means a corporation, limited liability company, labor organization, partnership, trust, association, organization, joint venture, cooperative, unincorporated organization or association or other organized group that consists of more than one individual.

23. "Excess contribution" means a contribution that exceeds the applicable contribution limits for a particular election.

24. "Exclusive insurance contract" means an insurance producer's contract with an insurer that does either of the following:

(a) Prohibits the producer from soliciting insurance business for any other insurer.

(b) Requires a right of first refusal on all lines of insurance business written by the insurer and solicited by the producer.

25. "Expenditure" means any purchase, payment or other thing of value that is made by a person for the purpose of influencing an election.

26. "Family contribution" means any contribution that is provided to a candidate's committee by the parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, child or sibling of the candidate or the candidate's spouse, including the spouse of any of the listed family members, regardless of whether the relation is established by marriage or adoption.

27. "Filing officer" means the secretary of state or the county, city or town officer in charge of elections for that jurisdiction who accepts statements and reports for those elections pursuant to section 16-928.

28. "Firewall" means a written policy that precludes one person from sharing information with another person.

29. "Identification" or "identify" means:

(a) For an individual, the individual's first and last name, residence location or street address and occupation and the name of the individual's primary employer.

(b) For any other person, the person's full name and physical location or street address.

30. "Incomplete contribution" means any contribution that is received by a committee for which the contributor's complete identification has not been obtained.

31. "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a person, other than a candidate committee, that complies with both of the following:

(a) Expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate.

(b) Is not made in cooperation or consultation with or at the request or suggestion of the candidate or the candidate's agent.

32. "In-kind contribution" means a contribution of goods, services or anything of value that is provided without charge or at less than the usual and normal charge.

33. "Insurance producer" means a person that:

(a) Is required to be licensed to sell, solicit or negotiate insurance.

(b) Has an exclusive insurance contract with an insurer.

34. "Itemized" means that each contribution received or expenditure made is set forth separately.

35. "Labor organization" means any employee representation organization that exists for the purpose of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment or other conditions of employment.

36. "Legislative office" means the office of representative in the state house of representatives or senator in the state senate.

37. "Mega PAC status" means official recognition that a political action committee has received contributions from five hundred or more individuals in amounts of ten dollars or more in the four-year period immediately before application to the secretary of state.

38. "Nominee" means a candidate who prevails in a primary election for partisan office and includes the nominee's candidate committee.

39. "Person" means an individual or a candidate, nominee, committee, corporation, limited liability company, labor organization, partnership, trust, association, organization, joint venture, cooperative or unincorporated organization or association.

40. "Personal monies" means any of the following:

(a) Assets to which the individual or individual's spouse has either legal title or an equitable interest.

(b) Salary and other earned income from bona fide employment of the individual or individual's spouse.

(c) Dividends and proceeds from the sale of investments of the individual or individual's spouse.

(d) Bequests to the individual or individual's spouse.

(e) Income to the individual or individual's spouse from revocable trusts for which the individual or individual's spouse is a beneficiary.

(f) Gifts of a personal nature to the individual or individual's spouse that would have been given regardless of whether the individual became a candidate or accepted a contribution.

(g) The proceeds of loans obtained by the individual or individual's spouse that are secured by collateral or security provided by the individual or individual's spouse.

(h) Family contributions.

41. "Political action committee" means an entity that is required to register as a political action committee pursuant to section 16-905.

42. "Political party" means a committee that meets the requirements for recognition as a political party pursuant to chapter 5 of this title.

43. "Primary purpose" means an entity's predominant purpose.  Notwithstanding any other law or rule, an entity is not organized for the primary purpose of influencing an election if all of the following apply at the time the contribution or expenditure is made:

(a) The entity has tax exempt status under section 501(a) of the internal revenue code.

(b) Except for a religious organization, assembly or institution, the entity has properly filed a form 1023 or form 1024 with the internal revenue service or the equivalent successor form designated by the internal revenue service.

(c) The entity's tax exempt status has not been denied or revoked by the internal revenue service.

(d) The entity has properly filed a form 990 with the internal revenue service or the equivalent successor form designated by the internal revenue service in compliance with the most recent filing deadline established by internal revenue service regulations or policies.

44. "Retention" means the election process by which a superior court judge, appellate court judge or supreme court justice is retained in office as prescribed by article VI, section 38 or 40, Constitution of Arizona.

45. "Separate segregated fund" means a fund established by a corporation, limited liability company, labor organization or partnership that is required to register as a political action committee.

46. "Social media messages" means forms of communication, including internet sites for social networking or blogging, through which users create a personal profile and participate in online communities to share information, ideas and personal messages.

47. "Sponsor" means any person that establishes, administers or contributes financial support to the administration of a political action committee or that has common or overlapping membership or officers with that political action committee.

48. "Standing committee" means a political action committee or political party that is active in more than one reporting jurisdiction in this state and that files a statement of organization in a format prescribed by the secretary of state.

49. "Statewide office" means the office of governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, corporation commissioner or mine inspector.

50. "Surplus monies" means those monies of a terminating committee that remain after all of the committee's expenditures have been made, all debts have been extinguished and the committee ceases accepting contributions.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 23 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1985–2024 · leading case: Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 98 P.3d 214 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 98 P.3d 214 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 36× “A.R.S. § 16-901(19)(b) (Supp.2003). ¶ 27 Section 16-920(A)(3), in turn, provides that corporations and labor organizations may provide for "[t]he establishment, administration and solicitation of voluntary contributions to a separate segregated fund to be utilized for political…”
Comm. FOR Just. & FAIRNESS v. Arizona Sec'y of State's Off., 332 P.3d 94 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 23× “¶ 6 Meanwhile, on October 22, 2010, Horne’s election committee filed with the Arizona Secretary of State a complaint alleging CJF had engaged in express advocacy and was thus subject to the requirements of AR.S. § 16-901 et seq. The *350 complaint alleged that, before…”
Van Riper v. Threadgill, 905 P.2d 589 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 14× “section 16-901. The incorporation of that definition of "political committee" into Title 19, Article 2, comes from the "Statement of Organization" form created by the Secretary of State, which refers, without statutory support, to A.”
Thomas horne/kathleen Winn v. Sheila Polk, 394 P.3d 651 (Ariz. 2017). · cites it 2× “), Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that Attorney General Thomas Horne, Kathleen Winn, who served as Community Outreach Director of the Attorney General’s Office, and two campaign committees (collectively “Appellants”)…”
Adams v. Comm'n on Appellate Court Appointments, 254 P.3d 367 (Ariz. 2011). · cites it 2× “A.R.S. § 16-901(2) (excluding candidates for federal office from state campaign disclosure law).”
City of Sierra Vista v. Sierra Vista Wards Sys. Voting Proj., 278 P.3d 297 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 3× “” See A.R.S. § 16-901(19) (defining political committee for purposes of title 16).”
Pacion v. Thomas, 236 P.3d 395 (Ariz. 2010). · cites it 4× “¶ 6 Title 16, Chapter 6, Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S. §§ 16-901 to 16-961), is entitled “Campaign Contributions and Expenses” and contains a comprehensive statutory scheme governing election campaign finance.”
Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 115 P.3d 121 (Ariz. 2005). · cites it 14× “¶ 4 When the parties could not negotiate a settlement, the State issued an administrative order directing the Party to return all the contributions.”
Adams v. Com'n on Appellate Ct. Appointments, 254 P.3d 367 (Ariz. 2011). · cites it 2× “A.R.S. § 16-901(2) (excluding candidates for federal office from state campaign disclosure law).”
McNamara v. Citizens Protecting Tax Payers, 337 P.3d 557 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “Appellants filed complaints with the Phoenix City Clerk, the Maricopa County Attorney, and the Arizona Secretary of State on the same day they filed their superior court action.”
McComish v. Bennett, 611 F.3d 510 (9th Cir. 2010). “" Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 16-901(14). . The matching funds that the participating candidate receives are reduced by six percent to take into account the fact that nonparticipaling candidates incur expenses in order to raise money.”
Leach v. reagan/clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, 430 P.3d 1241 (Ariz. 2018). · cites it 16× “§§ 16-901(21), -938(A), (C), (E). (Depending on the identity of the filing officer, the "enforcement officer" is either the Attorney General, a county attorney, or a city or town attorney.”
Show all 23 citing cases →
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(1) — 1 case
Mecham Recall Comm., Inc. v. Corbin, 745 P.2d 950 (Ariz. 1987).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(10) — 1 case
Ctr. for Az Policy v. Az Sec'y of State (Ariz. Ct. App. 2024).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(14) — 4 cases
Comm. FOR Just. & FAIRNESS v. Arizona Sec'y of State's Off., 332 P.3d 94 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). “¶ 6 Meanwhile, on October 22, 2010, Horne’s election committee filed with the Arizona Secretary of State a complaint alleging CJF had engaged in express advocacy and was thus subject to the requirements of AR.S. § 16-901 et seq. The *350 complaint alleged that, before…”
Thomas horne/kathleen Winn v. Sheila Polk, 394 P.3d 651 (Ariz. 2017). “), Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that Attorney General Thomas Horne, Kathleen Winn, who served as Community Outreach Director of the Attorney General’s Office, and two campaign committees (collectively “Appellants”)…”
McComish v. Bennett, 611 F.3d 510 (9th Cir. 2010). “" Ariz.Rev.Stat. § 16-901(14). . The matching funds that the participating candidate receives are reduced by six percent to take into account the fact that nonparticipaling candidates incur expenses in order to raise money.”
McComish v. Bennett, 653 F.3d 1106 (9th Cir. 2010).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(15) — 1 case
Van Riper v. Threadgill, 905 P.2d 589 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1995). “section 16-901. The incorporation of that definition of "political committee" into Title 19, Article 2, comes from the "Statement of Organization" form created by the Secretary of State, which refers, without statutory support, to A.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(19) — 4 cases
Comm. FOR Just. & FAIRNESS v. Arizona Sec'y of State's Off., 332 P.3d 94 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). “¶ 6 Meanwhile, on October 22, 2010, Horne’s election committee filed with the Arizona Secretary of State a complaint alleging CJF had engaged in express advocacy and was thus subject to the requirements of AR.S. § 16-901 et seq. The *350 complaint alleged that, before…”
City of Sierra Vista v. Sierra Vista Wards Sys. Voting Proj., 278 P.3d 297 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2012). “” See A.R.S. § 16-901(19) (defining political committee for purposes of title 16).”
Ctr. for Individual Freedom, Inc. v. Ireland, 613 F. Supp. 2d 777 (S.D.W. Va 2009).
Ctr. for Individual Freedom, Inc. v. Tennant, 849 F. Supp. 2d 659 (S.D.W. Va 2011).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(19)(b) — 1 case
Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 98 P.3d 214 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004). “A.R.S. § 16-901(19)(b) (Supp.2003). ¶ 27 Section 16-920(A)(3), in turn, provides that corporations and labor organizations may provide for "[t]he establishment, administration and solicitation of voluntary contributions to a separate segregated fund to be utilized for political…”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(2) — 3 cases
Adams v. Comm'n on Appellate Court Appointments, 254 P.3d 367 (Ariz. 2011). “A.R.S. § 16-901(2) (excluding candidates for federal office from state campaign disclosure law).”
Adams v. Com'n on Appellate Ct. Appointments, 254 P.3d 367 (Ariz. 2011). “A.R.S. § 16-901(2) (excluding candidates for federal office from state campaign disclosure law).”
Pacion v. Thomas, 236 P.3d 395 (Ariz. 2010). “¶ 6 Title 16, Chapter 6, Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S. §§ 16-901 to 16-961), is entitled “Campaign Contributions and Expenses” and contains a comprehensive statutory scheme governing election campaign finance.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(21) — 2 cases
Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 115 P.3d 121 (Ariz. 2005). “¶ 4 When the parties could not negotiate a settlement, the State issued an administrative order directing the Party to return all the contributions.”
Leach v. reagan/clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, 430 P.3d 1241 (Ariz. 2018). “§§ 16-901(21), -938(A), (C), (E). (Depending on the identity of the filing officer, the "enforcement officer" is either the Attorney General, a county attorney, or a city or town attorney.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(25) — 1 case
McNamara v. Citizens Protecting Tax Payers, 337 P.3d 557 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). “Appellants filed complaints with the Phoenix City Clerk, the Maricopa County Attorney, and the Arizona Secretary of State on the same day they filed their superior court action.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(27) — 1 case
Leach v. reagan/clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, 430 P.3d 1241 (Ariz. 2018). “§§ 16-901(21), -938(A), (C), (E). (Depending on the identity of the filing officer, the "enforcement officer" is either the Attorney General, a county attorney, or a city or town attorney.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(39) — 1 case
Leach v. reagan/clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, 430 P.3d 1241 (Ariz. 2018). “§§ 16-901(21), -938(A), (C), (E). (Depending on the identity of the filing officer, the "enforcement officer" is either the Attorney General, a county attorney, or a city or town attorney.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(4) — 1 case
Comm. FOR Just. & FAIRNESS v. Arizona Sec'y of State's Off., 332 P.3d 94 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). “¶ 6 Meanwhile, on October 22, 2010, Horne’s election committee filed with the Arizona Secretary of State a complaint alleging CJF had engaged in express advocacy and was thus subject to the requirements of AR.S. § 16-901 et seq. The *350 complaint alleged that, before…”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(45) — 1 case
Leach v. reagan/clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, 430 P.3d 1241 (Ariz. 2018). “§§ 16-901(21), -938(A), (C), (E). (Depending on the identity of the filing officer, the "enforcement officer" is either the Attorney General, a county attorney, or a city or town attorney.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(47) — 1 case
Leach v. reagan/clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, 430 P.3d 1241 (Ariz. 2018). “§§ 16-901(21), -938(A), (C), (E). (Depending on the identity of the filing officer, the "enforcement officer" is either the Attorney General, a county attorney, or a city or town attorney.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(5) — 2 cases
Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 98 P.3d 214 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004). “A.R.S. § 16-901(19)(b) (Supp.2003). ¶ 27 Section 16-920(A)(3), in turn, provides that corporations and labor organizations may provide for "[t]he establishment, administration and solicitation of voluntary contributions to a separate segregated fund to be utilized for political…”
Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 115 P.3d 121 (Ariz. 2005). “¶ 4 When the parties could not negotiate a settlement, the State issued an administrative order directing the Party to return all the contributions.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(5)(a) — 1 case
Mecham Recall Comm., Inc. v. Corbin, 745 P.2d 950 (Ariz. 1987).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(5)(b)(v) — 2 cases
Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 98 P.3d 214 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004). “A.R.S. § 16-901(19)(b) (Supp.2003). ¶ 27 Section 16-920(A)(3), in turn, provides that corporations and labor organizations may provide for "[t]he establishment, administration and solicitation of voluntary contributions to a separate segregated fund to be utilized for political…”
Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 115 P.3d 121 (Ariz. 2005). “¶ 4 When the parties could not negotiate a settlement, the State issued an administrative order directing the Party to return all the contributions.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(6) — 1 case
Arizona State Democratic Party v. State, 115 P.3d 121 (Ariz. 2005). “¶ 4 When the parties could not negotiate a settlement, the State issued an administrative order directing the Party to return all the contributions.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-901(8) — 1 case
Comm. FOR Just. & FAIRNESS v. Arizona Sec'y of State's Off., 332 P.3d 94 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). “¶ 6 Meanwhile, on October 22, 2010, Horne’s election committee filed with the Arizona Secretary of State a complaint alleging CJF had engaged in express advocacy and was thus subject to the requirements of AR.S. § 16-901 et seq. The *350 complaint alleged that, before…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.