{"data":{"id":"us-mt/13-37-601","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"13-37-601","heading":"Definitions.","body":"For the purposes of this part, the following definitions apply:\n(1) (a) \"Contribution\" means:\n(i) the receipt by a reporting entity of an advance, gift, loan, conveyance, deposit, payment, or distribution of money to support or oppose an effort to qualify a minor party for primary elections using a minor party petition;\n(ii) an expenditure that is made in coordination with a minor party qualification committee formed by the minor party that is reportable by the minor party qualification committee as a contribution;\n(iii) the receipt of funds transferred from another reporting entity for use to support or oppose an effort to qualify a minor party for primary elections using a minor party petition; or\n(iv) the payment by a person other than a reporting entity of compensation for the personal services of another person that are rendered to the reporting entity to support or oppose an effort to qualify a minor party for primary elections using a minor party petition.\n(b) The term does not mean services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of the reporting entity.\n(2) (a) \"Expenditure\" means a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, promise, pledge, or gift of money made by a reporting entity to support or oppose an effort to qualify a minor party for primary elections using a minor party petition.\n(b) The term does not mean:\n(i) services, food, or lodging provided in a manner that they are not contributions under subsection (1);\n(ii) the cost of any bona fide news story, commentary, blog, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication of general circulation; or\n(iii) the cost of any communication by a membership organization or corporation to its members or stockholders or employees.\n(3) \"Minor party\" means a political party that does not qualify to hold a primary election under 13-10-601(1).\n(4) \"Minor party petition\" means a petition described by 13-10-606.\n(5) \"Minor party qualification committee\" means a combination of two or more individuals or a person other than an individual organized to support or oppose an effort to qualify a minor political party for primary elections using a minor party petition.\n(6) (a) \"Reporting entity\" means the following entities that receive at least $500 in aggregate contributions in a calendar year or make at least $500 in aggregate expenditures in a calendar year:\n(i) except as provided by subsection (6)(b), an individual; or\n(ii) a minor party qualification committee.\n(b) The term does not mean an individual if the individual's contributions and expenditures are otherwise reportable by a minor party qualification committee. This exception includes but is not limited to an individual who is a signature gatherer if the signature gathering company, partnership, or other business organization that directly hires, supervises, and pays the individual is otherwise required to report as a minor party qualification committee under this part.\n(7) \"Support or oppose\" means referring to or depicting a minor party in a manner that is susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than to advocate for or against a minor party's qualification to hold a primary election.","path":["TITLE 13. ELECTIONS","CHAPTER 37. CONTROL OF CAMPAIGN PRACTICES","Part 6. Minor Parties"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0130/chapter_0370/part_0060/section_0010/0130-0370-0060-0010.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:46:34Z","sha256":"f76d3a09b31eb9987f468aa008b27b986dd5da43d2f5da8e76c44b0f6f22f70e","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/13-37-505","next":"us-mt/13-37-602"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}