DCMR Chapter 30

3000.1 Each political committee shall file a statement of organization, on a form prescribed by the Director of the Office of Campaign Finance (the Director), within ten (10) days of organization.

3000.2 Each political committee shall be deemed "organized" when any proposer, individual, committee (including a principal campaign committee), club, association, organization, or other group of individuals formally agree, orally or in writing, or decides to promote or oppose a political party, the nomination or election of an individual to office, or any initiative, referendum, or recall.

3000.3 In the absence of a decision to organize, as a political committee opposing an initiative or referendum measure, pursuant to §3000.2, a person, who addresses the determination by the Board of Elections and Ethics of the appropriateness of a proposed measure for filing, pursuant to chapter 10 of this title, shall not be required to a file a statement of organization, pursuant to §3000.1, or a receipts and expenditures report (R&E Report), pursuant to §3008.

3000.4 Agreement to form a political committee by an individual shall also occur upon designation by a candidate on the statement of candidacy form, filed pursuant to §3006.1.

3000.5 Each political committee shall be either an authorized committee or an unauthorized committee.

3000.6 An authorized committee shall be any political committee designated by a candidate on the statement of candidacy form, filed pursuant to §3006.1, to receive contributions or make expenditures on behalf of a candidate; and it shall include the name of any candidate for elective office in the District of Columbia in its name.

3000.7 An unauthorized committee shall be any political committee which has not been designated by a candidate on the statement of candidacy form, filed pursuant to §3006.1, to solicit or receive contributions or make expenditures on behalf of a candidate seeking office; and it shall not include the name of any candidate for elective office in the District of Columbia in its name.

3000.8 For purposes for reporting and recordkeeping requirements, political committees shall include the following:

(a) Affiliated Committee - all authorized committees of the same candidate for the same election, or all committees established, financed, maintained, or controlled by the same corporation, labor or membership organization, cooperative or trade association, or any similar organization;

(b) Delegate Committee - established to support a presidential candidate, which shall include the word "delegate(s)" in its name and may include the name of the presidential candidate which it supports;

(c ) Independent or Political Action (PAC) Committee - any unauthorized committee;

(d) Initiative, Referendum, Recall or Proposed Charter Amendment Committee - organized for the purpose of, or engaged in promoting or opposing initiative, referendum or recall measures or proposed Charter amendments, respectively;

(e) Party Committee - represents a political party of the official party structure at the city-wide or ward level; and

(f) Principal Campaign Committee - designated and authorized by a candidate or slate of candidates for election as officials of a political party, as the principal campaign committee, in accordance with §3006, Provided that, it shall include the name(s) of the candidate(s) who authorized the committee.

3000.9 Political committees shall not include the following:

(a) Connected Organization - a corporation, labor or membership organization, cooperative or trade association, or any similar organization which directly or indirectly establishes, administers or financially supports a political committee; and

(b) Exploratory, Draft or "Testing the Waters" Committees - formed solely for the purpose of determining the feasibility of an individual’s candidacy.

3000.10 Each political committee which does not intend to support a candidate shall indicate the following:

(a) Declare its intention on the Notification of Non-Support Statement form; and

(b) File a Notification of Support form, within 10 days of the change by the political committee of its intention not to support a candidate.

3000.11 A political committee shall have the following officers:

(a) A chairperson; and

(b) A treasurer.

3000.12 A contribution or expenditure shall not be accepted or made by, or on behalf of a political committee under the following conditions:

(a) When the office of treasurer is vacant; and

(b) No other person has been designated and has agreed to perform the functions of treasurer.

3000.13 Each expenditure made for or on behalf of a political committee shall be authorized only by the following:

(a) Chairperson;

(b) Treasurer; or

(c ) Their designated agents, as listed pursuant to §3000.1.

3000.14 A chairperson shall be required to file the following:

(a) A statement of acceptance, on a form prescribed by the Director, within five (5) days of assuming the office; and

(b) A statement of withdrawal, on a form prescribed by the Director, and a copy of written notification sent to the address of record of the treasurer and candidate, if an authorized committee, within five (5) days of vacating the office.

3000.15 A treasurer shall be required to file the following:

(a) A statement of acceptance, on a form prescribed by the Director, within forty- eight (48) hours of assuming the office;

(b) Periodic R&E Reports, pursuant to §3008, signed by the treasurer or, if unavailable, the designated agent, pursuant to §3000.1; Provided, that the treasurer shall be responsible for all Reports and statements due to the Director during the treasurer’s tenure; and

(c ) A statement of withdrawal on a form prescribed by the Director, and a copy of written notification sent to the address of record of the chairperson and candidate, if an authorized committee, within forty-eight (48) hours of vacating the office.

3000.16 A person shall not serve as chairperson and treasurer of a political committee simultaneously, except the following:

(a) A candidate; or

(b) A proposer or opponent of an initiative, referendum or recall measure or charter amendment.

3000.16 Each political committee shall amend its Statement of Organization within ten (10) days of any change in information previously reported on its Statement of Organization.