§ 801Definition of Political Parties and Political Bodies

(a) Any party or political body, one of whose candidates
at the general election next preceding the primary polled in
each of at least ten counties of the State not less than two
per centum of the largest entire vote cast in each of said
counties for any elected candidate, and polled a total vote in
the State equal to at least two per centum of the largest entire
vote cast in the State for any elected candidate, is hereby
declared to be a political party within the State, and shall
nominate all its candidates for any of the offices provided for
in this act, and shall elect its delegates and alternate
delegates to the National convention as party rules provide.
State committee members, and also such party officers, including
members of the National committee, as its rules provide, shall
be elected by a vote of the party electors, in accordance with
the provisions of this act and party rules. ((a) amended Dec.
22, 1971, P.L.613, No.165)
   (b) Any party or political body, one of whose candidates
at either the general or municipal election preceding the
primary polled at least five per centum of the largest entire
vote cast for any elected candidate in any county, is hereby
declared to be a political party within said county; and shall
nominate all its candidates for office in such county and in
all political districts within said county, or of which said
county forms a part, and shall elect such party officers as its
rules provide shall be elected therein, by a vote of the party
electors, in accordance with the provisions of this act.
   (c) Any political body which is not a political party, as
hereinabove defined, but which has nominated candidates for
such general or municipal election by nomination papers in the
manner provided by this act, shall be deemed to be a political
body within the meaning of this act, but such political body
shall not be entitled to nominate its candidates or elect its
party officers at primaries held under the provisions of this
act.
   (d) Provided, however, That the words "political party" and
the words "political body", as hereinabove defined, shall not
include any political party, political organization or political
body composed of a group of electors, whose purposes or aims,
or one of whose purposes or aims, is the establishment, control,

conduct, seizure or overthrow of the Government of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the United States of America
by the use of force, violence, military measures, or threats
of one or more of the foregoing.
   (801 amended July 28, 1941, P.L.526, No.213)