[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 11, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 11CFR110.13]

[Page 176]
 
                       TITLE 11--FEDERAL ELECTIONS
 
                 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
 
PART 110_CONTRIBUTION AND EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS--Table 
of Contents
 
Sec.  110.13  Candidate debates.

    (a) Staging organizations. (1) Nonprofit organizations described in 
26 U.S.C. 501 (c)(3) or (c)(4) and which do not endorse, support, or 
oppose political candidates or political parties may stage candidate 
debates in accordance with this section and 11 CFR 114.4(f).
    (2) Broadcasters (including a cable television operator, programmer 
or producer), bona fide newspapers, magazines and other periodical 
publications may stage candidate debates in accordance with this section 
and 11 CFR 114.4(f), provided that they are not owned or controlled by a 
political party, political committee or candidate. In addition, 
broadcasters (including a cable television operator, programmer or 
producer), bona fide newspapers, magazines and other periodical 
publications, acting as press entities, may also cover or carry 
candidate debates in accordance with 11 CFR part 100, subparts B and C 
and part 100, subparts D and E.
    (b) Debate structure. The structure of debates staged in accordance 
with this section and 11 CFR 114.4(f) is left to the discretion of the 
staging organizations(s), provided that:
    (1) Such debates include at least two candidates; and
    (2) The staging organization(s) does not structure the debates to 
promote or advance one candidate over another.
    (c) Criteria for candidate selection. For all debates, staging 
organization(s) must use pre-established objective criteria to determine 
which candidates may participate in a debate. For general election 
debates, staging organizations(s) shall not use nomination by a 
particular political party as the sole objective criterion to determine 
whether to include a candidate in a debate. For debates held prior to a 
primary election, caucus or convention, staging organizations may 
restrict candidate participation to candidates seeking the nomination of 
one party, and need not stage a debate for candidates seeking the 
nomination of any other political party or independent candidates.

[61 FR 18051, Apr. 24, 1996; 61 FR 24533, May 15, 1996, as amended at 67 
FR 78681, Dec. 26, 2002]