| IB-10-04 |
Subvendor Reports |
| |
This bulletin is issued to provide guidance and direction to political committees and interested persons regarding
the interpretation and implementation of those sections of the campaign finance law relating to the filing
of subvendor reports. The law requires political committees to disclose how their paid consultants and vendors
make expenditures on their behalf. |
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| IB-10-03 |
Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee |
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This bulletin is issued to provide guidance and direction to groups that raise funds solely to make
independent expenditures. |
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| IB-10-02 |
Filing of Late Contribution Reports |
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This bulletin is issued to provide guidance and direction to political committees and interested
persons regarding the interpretation and implementation of the campaign finance law as it applies to
the filing of late contribution reports. |
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| IB-10-01 |
Disclaimers on Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications |
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This interpretive bulletin provides guidance and direction regarding the interpretation and implementation
of M.G. L. Chapter 55, Section 18G, concerning disclaimers on independent expenditures and electioneering
communications. |
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| IB-06-01 |
Express Advocacy and Issue Adocacy |
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This interpretive bulletin defines "express advocacy" and "issue advocacy" and provides
guidance regarding whether communications that might be considered either "express advocacy" or
"issue advocacy" involve the making of expenditures or the receipt of contributions subject to
the requirements of the Massachusetts campaign finance law. [Under Review - See
OCPF's Statement
regarding the recent Supreme Court ruling in
Citizens United v. Federal
Election Commission] |
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| IB-04-01 |
Use of Internet and E-mail for Political Campaign Purposes |
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This bulletin summarizes OCPF's responses to questions relating to expenditures that may be made for
Internet access, the services that may be provided to candidates and committees to help them establish
websites, the use of links to campaign websites, the use of the Internet to recieve contributions, and
access to government websites and e-mail networks. |
|
| IB-95-01 |
Implementation by Ballot Question Committees of Chapter 43 and 292 of the Acts of
1994 |
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Bulletin is issued to highlight changes to the law mandated by chapters 43 and 292 of the Acts of 1994
relating to ballot question committees. As amended, chapter 55 now defines the term "ballot question
committee." Other interpretive bulletins of interest to ballot question committees include IB-88-01,
IB-90-02 and IB-91-01. |
|
| IB-95-02 |
Political Activity, Organization & Dissolution of Ballot Question Committees & Civic
Organizations' Involvement in Ballot Question Campaigns |
| |
Bulletin defines the range of political activity which may be undertaken by ballot question committees,
the organization and dissolution of such committees, and the relationship between ballot question campaigns
and civic organizations. |
|
| IB-95-03 |
Use of Public Resources by Elected Officials to Communicate with Constituents or
Respond to Criticism |
| |
Bulletin advises that an elected official or the official's staff may use public resources to produce
and distribute information to constituents regarding the official's positions on issues if the
activity is consistent with the official's responsibilities. Elected officials and their staff
may also use public resources to respond to criticism of the official's record, even from opponents,
provided such use is reasonable and proportionate in scope. Public resources may not be used to
attack the candidacy of an opponent. |
|
| IB-94-02 |
Implementation of Chapter 43 of the Acts of 1994: Requirements Relating to Political
Action Committees |
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Bulletin provides guidance to political committees and interested persons regarding the interpretation and
implementation of ch. 43 of the Acts of 1994 relating to PACs and related entities, effective January 1,
1995. Specifically, the bulletin addresses the obligations of PACs and a new kind of political
committee created by chapter 43 called "people's committees." |
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| IB-92-01 |
The Application of the Campaign Finance Laws to Public Employees and Political
Solicitation |
| |
Bulletin provides general guidance and answers certain frequently asked questions regarding the scope of
M.G.L. c. 55, s. 13's prohibition against political solicitation by public employees. |
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| IB-92-02 |
Activities of Public Officials in Support of or Opposition to Ballot Questions |
| |
Bulletin provides guidance regarding the extent to which an appointed or elected official may utilize
governmental resources when speaking or acting in support of or opposition to a ballot question. In
general, appointed officials may act or speak out about a ballot question in their official capacity during
work hours if in doing so they are acting within the scope of their official responsibilities.
Elected officials may address or advocate any position on any matter of public policy, including the
subject matter of a ballot question, and such speech or advocacy may take place during work hours.
Like an appointed official, however, an elected official may not use public resources to promote or oppose
a ballot question. |
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| IB-91-01 |
The Use of Governmental Resources for Political Purposes |
| |
Bulletin provides general guidance and answers certain frequently asked questions regarding the use of
governmental resources for political purposes. Although the discussion and examples are primarily
drawn from ballot question campaigns, and most frequently relate to the distribution of information to
voters regarding a ballot question, much of the discussion also applies in other contexts where
governmental resources are used for political purposes. See Anderson v. City of Boston, 376
Mass. 178, 187, 380 N.E.2nd 628 (1978), appeal dismissed, 439 U.S. 1069 (1979). See also: IB-90-02
(Disclosure and Reporting of Contributions and Expenditures Related to Ballot Questions), IB-92-01 (The
Application of the Campaign Finance Laws to Public Employees and Political Solicitation), IB-92-02 (Extent
to which Policy-Making Officials May Act or Speak in Support of or Opposition to Ballot Questions), IB-95-02
(Political Activity of Ballot Question Committees and Civic Organizations' Involvement in Ballot
Question Campaigns). |
|
| IB-90-02 |
Disclosure and Reporting of Contributions and/or Expenditures Related to Ballot
Questions |
| |
Bulletin defines when expenditures to influence a ballot question become subject to the campaign finance
law and provides guidelines regarding the disclosure of expenditures made to promote or oppose a ballot
question by ballot question committees and by other organizations. If an organization solicits or
receives any money or other thing of value for the purpose of promoting or opposing a question submitted
to the voters, the organization is functioning as a ballot question committee. As such, the
organization is subject to all the provisions of the campaign finance law as of the date of the
solicitation or receipt of such money or other thing of value. Disclosure reports are filed with
OCPF for statewide or county ballot questions or legislative advisory questions. Reports are filed
with local election officials for local ballot questions. |
|
| IB-88-01 |
The Applicability of the Campaign Finance Law to Groups that do not Engage in
Political Fundraising |
| |
Bulletin sets forth the "10/15 rule" that applies to political expenditures made by groups,
unions, associations or other types of organizations, including non-profit corporations. The rule
provides that political expenditures made by such organizations must be reported and are subject to
contribution limitations if such expenditures (1) are for the purpose of aiding, promoting or preventing
the nomination or election of any person to public office, or aiding or promoting or antagonizing the
interest of any political action committee or political party and (2) exceed, in the aggregate, in a
calendar year, either $15,000 or 10 percent of such organization's gross revenues for the previous
calendar year, whichever is less (the "incidental threshold"). |
|
| IB-88-02 |
Lease of Real or Personal Property by Candidates and Political Committees |
| |
Bulletin provides guidelines to candidates and political committees regarding the lease of real or
personal property by candidates and political committees. Candidates and political committees which
follow these guidelines will ensure that rental expenses for office space and equipment comply with the
campaign finance law's record keeping requirements and restrictions against personal use. |
|
| IB-83-01 |
Filing of Reports by PACs and People's Committees organized with OCPF which
participate in Municipal Elections |
| |
Bulletin advises that PACs and People's Committees organized with OCPF or at the municipal level
generally do not have additional reporting responsibilities at the municipal level or OCPF. There
are exceptions, e.g. a political committee organized at the municipal level that makes more than an
occasional contribution to a non-municipal candidate must report to OCPF. Bulletin also reflects
changes to the law affecting PACs and people's committees. See chapters 43 and 292 of the Acts
of 1994, effective January 1, 1995. |
|
| IB-82-01 |
The Applicability of MA Campaign Finance Law to Unregistered Political Groups &
Non-MA Political Committees |
| |
Bulletin provides guidance regarding the participation of political committees, especially PACs, organized
in another state or at the federal level. Although Massachusetts political committees may contribute
to non-Massachusetts candidates and political committees subject to any relevant limits of the
non-Massachusetts jurisdiction, non-Massachusetts political committees may not contribute to Massachusetts
candidates and political committees other than ballot questions committees unless the non-Massachusetts
committee establishes a segregated account and registers the committee with OCPF. |
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