Loan – A contribution made with expectation of repayment and reported in Part 3 of the D-2 form. When reporting a loan, lenders and endorsers or guarantors of any loan shall be reported by name, address, date, and amount loaned or endorsed. If the loan exceeds $500 from a natural person, the lender shall be identified by occupation and employer. If the endorsed amount exceeds $500, the endorser shall be identified by occupation and employer. The terms of a loan must be set forth by written agreement.

Local political committee – A political committee supporting or opposing a candidate filing a Statement of Economic Interest with the county clerk, a candidate for ward or township committeeman in Cook County, any groups supporting or opposing such candidates, any individual or group of individuals supporting or opposing a proposition to be submitted to the voters in one county, or any individual or group of individuals making expenditures for electioneering communications, and which exceeds the $3000 filing threshold.

Nonparticipation, statement of – The statement which may be filed in lieu of a pre-election report when a political committee does not participate in an election. Nonparticipation means that a political committee is making no expenditures either in support of or opposition to a candidate or proposition on the ballot. A candidate on the ballot may not file a statement of nonparticipation even though he may be unopposed and making no expenditures. A D-2 form is used to file the statement of nonparticipation. No financial information is reported on a statement of nonparticipation. A committee, which, having filed a statement of nonparticipation, makes a subsequent contribution to a candidate who will appear on the ballot at the next election shall file a pre-election report within five days after making the contribution, or if the contribution is made during the five days immediately prior to the election, within 24 hours after making the contribution.

Notice of obligation – The informational sheet provided to each candidate when petitions are filed. If petitions are filed in person, the Notice of Obligation may be given to the candidate in person. If petitions are filed by mail, the Notice of Obligation shall be mailed to the candidate within two days. The Notice of Obligation explains the candidate’s obligations under the Campaign Financing Act.

Officer – Each political committee must have both a chairman and a treasurer. One person may hold both positions. A candidate may serve as his own chairman and treasurer. No financial transactions may take place while there is a vacancy in either office.

Other contribution – A Part 4 receipt, a catch all category for such receipts as refunds, interest, rebates, deposit returns, sale of assets, liquidation of investments, stock dividends, returned checks, and dividends.

Person or Whoever– An individual, trust partnership, committee, association, corporation, or any other organization or group of persons.

Political committee – Includes state central and county central committees of any political party, and also includes local political committees and state political committees, but does not include any candidate who does not accept contributions or make expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3000, nor does it include, with the exception of state central and county central committees of any political party, any individual, trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or any other organization or group of persons which does not accept contributions or make expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3000 on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate or candidates or to any question of public policy, and such candidates and persons shall not be required to comply with any filing provisions. Also includes an individual or group of individuals accepting contributions or making expenditures exceeding $3000 for electioneering communications.

Pre-election report – The report of campaign contributions to be filed on a D-2 form no later than 15 days prior to an election, reporting all receipts, transfers out, and loans made from the close of the last reporting period through 30 days prior to an election. Only parts 1 through 7 of the D-2 form shall be completed for the pre-election report.

Previous officer – a former chairman or treasurer of a political committee.

Proposition – A question of public policy appearing on the ballot. A political committee supporting or opposing a question of public policy on the ballot has the same filing requirements as a political committee supporting or opposing a candidate.

Public funds – Any funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly or by a political subdivision of the State of Illinois. No public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or proposition, or be appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any candidate or political organization. Nothing in the Campaign Financing Act shall prohibit the use of public funds for the dissemination of factual information relative to any proposition appearing on an election ballot, or for dissemination of information and arguments published and distributed under law in connection with a proposition to amend the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

Public Office– Any elective office for which candidates are required to file statements of economic interests under the "Illinois Governmental Ethics Act".

Public official– Any person who is elected or appointed to public office.