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Illinois Compiled Statutes

10 ILCS 5/9-1.8 (2026)

Political committees

✓ current as of May 2026
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(10 ILCS 5/9-1.8) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.8)
    Sec. 9-1.8. Political committees.
    (a) "Political committee" includes a candidate political committee, a political party committee, a political action committee, a ballot initiative committee, and an independent expenditure committee.
    (b) "Candidate political committee" means the candidate himself or herself or any natural person, trust, partnership, corporation, or other organization or group of persons designated by the candidate that accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 on behalf of the candidate.
    (c) "Political party committee" means the State central committee of a political party, a county central committee of a political party, a legislative caucus committee, or a committee formed by a ward or township committeeperson of a political party. For purposes of this Article, a "legislative caucus committee" means a committee established for the purpose of electing candidates to the General Assembly by the person elected President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, or a committee established by 5 or more members of the same caucus of the Senate or 10 or more members of the same caucus of the House of Representatives.
    (d) "Political action committee" means any natural person, trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or other organization or group of persons, other than a candidate, political party, candidate political committee, or political party committee, that accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate or candidates for public office. "Political action committee" includes any natural person, trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or other organization or group of persons, other than a candidate, political party, candidate political committee, or political party committee, that makes electioneering communications during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 related to any candidate or candidates for public office.
    (e) "Ballot initiative committee" means any natural person, trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or other organization or group of persons that accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 in support of or in opposition to any question of public policy to be submitted to the electors. "Ballot initiative committee" includes any natural person, trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or other organization or group of persons that makes electioneering communications during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 related to any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters. The $5,000 threshold applies to any contributions or expenditures received or made with the purpose of securing a place on the ballot for, advocating the defeat or passage of, or engaging in electioneering communication regarding the question of public policy, regardless of the method of initiation of the question of public policy and regardless of whether petitions have been circulated or filed with the appropriate office or whether the question has been adopted and certified by the governing body.
    (f) "Independent expenditure committee" means any trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or other organization or group of persons formed for the exclusive purpose of making independent expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 in support of or in opposition to (i) the nomination for election, election, retention, or defeat of any public official or candidate or (ii) any question of public policy to be submitted to the electors. "Independent expenditure committee" also includes any trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or other organization or group of persons that makes electioneering communications that are not made in connection, consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion of a public official or candidate, a public official's or candidate's designated political committee or campaign, or an agent or agents of the public official, candidate, or political committee or campaign during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 related to (i) the nomination for election, election, retention, or defeat of any public official or candidate or (ii) any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters.
    (g) "Limited activity committee" means a political committee for which a person who is nominated to a position that is subject to confirmation by the Senate, including a member of the State Board of Elections, is either an officer or a candidate the committee has designated to support.
(Source: P.A. 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1998–2022 · leading case: Ctr. for Individual Freedom v. Madigan, 697 F.3d 464 (7th Cir. 2012).
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Ctr. for Individual Freedom v. Madigan, 697 F.3d 464 (7th Cir. 2012). · cites it 15× “See 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8, 5/9-8.6(b). The Center contends that Supreme Court precedent strictly cabins regulation of political committees to organizations that are “under the control of a candidate” or whose “major purpose” is “the nomination or election of a candidate.”
Illinois Liberty Pac v. Madigan, 902 F. Supp. 2d 1113 (N.D. Ill. 2012). · cites it 3× “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(a). A candidate political committee is the candidate himself or any group that accepts contributions or makes expenditures on his behalf.”
Illinois Liberty PAC v. Madigan, 212 F. Supp. 3d 753 (N.D. Ill. 2016). · cites it 5× “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(a). 3. Individuals may contribute $5,000 to a candidate in a given election cycle.”
Cooke v. Illinois State Bd. of Elections, 2021 IL 125386 (Ill. 2021). “” 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(b) (West 2014). -2- report with the Board on December 30, 2015.”
Hooker v. Illinois State Bd. of Elections, 2016 IL 121077 (Ill. 2016). “8(e) of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(e) (West 2014))—filed with the Secretary of State a petition proposing that article IV, section 3, of the Illinois Constitution be amended to replace the current system for redrawing this state’s legislative and representative districts…”
Illinois Repub. Party v. State Bd. of Elections, 691 N.E.2d 169 (Ill. App. Ct. 1998). “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8 (West 1996). "Every political committee shall designate a chairman and a treasurer" and the treasurer "shall be responsible for keeping the records and filing the statements and reports required by this Article.”
Sorock v. Illinois State Bd. of Elections, 2012 IL App (1st) 112740 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8 (West 2010) (defining political committees and creating the $3,000 reporting threshold); 10 ILCS 5/9-6 (West 2010) (requiring every contributor to give the political committee’s treasurer a detailed account of his or her contribution); 10 ILCS 5/9-7 (West 2010)…”
Chancey v. Illinois State Bd. of Elections (N.D. Ill. 2022). · cites it 2× “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(f). “Independent expenditures” cannot be made in concert with the candidates’ campaigns or political committees.”
Proft v. Madigan, 340 F. Supp. 3d 683 (E.D. Ill. 2018). “" 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(f). An independent expenditure is "any payment, gift, donation or other expenditure of funds" for "electioneering communications," or other express advocacy urging the election or defeat of a candidate.”
Proft v. Madigan (N.D. Ill. 2018). “” 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(f). An independent expenditure is “any Page 2 of 20 payment, gift, donation or other expenditure of funds” for “electioneering communi- cations,” or other express advocacy urging the election or defeat of a candidate.”
Lyons v. Ryan (Ill. App. Ct. 2001). “CFR was a "State Political Committee" as defined by statute (see 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8 (West 1998)) that solicited and accepted donations to Ryan's campaigns for Secretary of State and Governor.”
Santana v. State Bd. of Elections (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “" 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8 (West 2004). Santana's own testimony reveals that he satisfied the transactional requirements for the definition of a political committee under section 9-1.”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(a) — 3 cases
Illinois Liberty Pac v. Madigan, 902 F. Supp. 2d 1113 (N.D. Ill. 2012). “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(a). A candidate political committee is the candidate himself or any group that accepts contributions or makes expenditures on his behalf.”
Illinois Liberty PAC v. Madigan, 212 F. Supp. 3d 753 (N.D. Ill. 2016). “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(a). 3. Individuals may contribute $5,000 to a candidate in a given election cycle.”
Illinois Campaign v. Illinois State Bd., 904 N.E.2d 996 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009).
— 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(b) — 2 cases
Ctr. for Individual Freedom v. Madigan, 697 F.3d 464 (7th Cir. 2012). “See 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8, 5/9-8.6(b). The Center contends that Supreme Court precedent strictly cabins regulation of political committees to organizations that are “under the control of a candidate” or whose “major purpose” is “the nomination or election of a candidate.”
Cooke v. Illinois State Bd. of Elections, 2021 IL 125386 (Ill. 2021). “” 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(b) (West 2014). -2- report with the Board on December 30, 2015.”
— 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(c) — 2 cases
Illinois Liberty PAC v. Madigan, 212 F. Supp. 3d 753 (N.D. Ill. 2016). “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(a). 3. Individuals may contribute $5,000 to a candidate in a given election cycle.”
Illinois Liberty Pac v. Madigan, 902 F. Supp. 2d 1113 (N.D. Ill. 2012). “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(a). A candidate political committee is the candidate himself or any group that accepts contributions or makes expenditures on his behalf.”
— 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(d) — 3 cases
Ctr. for Individual Freedom v. Madigan, 697 F.3d 464 (7th Cir. 2012). “See 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8, 5/9-8.6(b). The Center contends that Supreme Court precedent strictly cabins regulation of political committees to organizations that are “under the control of a candidate” or whose “major purpose” is “the nomination or election of a candidate.”
Illinois Liberty Pac v. Madigan, 902 F. Supp. 2d 1113 (N.D. Ill. 2012). “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(a). A candidate political committee is the candidate himself or any group that accepts contributions or makes expenditures on his behalf.”
Illinois Liberty PAC v. Madigan, 212 F. Supp. 3d 753 (N.D. Ill. 2016). “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(a). 3. Individuals may contribute $5,000 to a candidate in a given election cycle.”
— 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(e) — 2 cases
Ctr. for Individual Freedom v. Madigan, 697 F.3d 464 (7th Cir. 2012). “See 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8, 5/9-8.6(b). The Center contends that Supreme Court precedent strictly cabins regulation of political committees to organizations that are “under the control of a candidate” or whose “major purpose” is “the nomination or election of a candidate.”
Hooker v. Illinois State Bd. of Elections, 2016 IL 121077 (Ill. 2016). “8(e) of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(e) (West 2014))—filed with the Secretary of State a petition proposing that article IV, section 3, of the Illinois Constitution be amended to replace the current system for redrawing this state’s legislative and representative districts…”
— 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(f) — 3 cases
Chancey v. Illinois State Bd. of Elections (N.D. Ill. 2022). “10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(f). “Independent expenditures” cannot be made in concert with the candidates’ campaigns or political committees.”
Proft v. Madigan, 340 F. Supp. 3d 683 (E.D. Ill. 2018). “" 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(f). An independent expenditure is "any payment, gift, donation or other expenditure of funds" for "electioneering communications," or other express advocacy urging the election or defeat of a candidate.”
Proft v. Madigan (N.D. Ill. 2018). “” 10 ILCS 5/9-1.8(f). An independent expenditure is “any Page 2 of 20 payment, gift, donation or other expenditure of funds” for “electioneering communi- cations,” or other express advocacy urging the election or defeat of a candidate.”
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