AO 2022-06 Hispanic Leadership Trust
Affiliation of non-connected committee with Congressional leadership PACs
Advisory opinions
Advisory opinions are official Commission responses to questions about how federal campaign finance law applies to specific, factual situations.
This archive contains advisory opinions from 1975 to the present. It also contains documents related to advisory opinions — such as requests, drafts and public comments — from 1990 to the present.
The advisory opinion processPending advisory opinion requests
Once the Office of the General Counsel has determined that an advisory opinion request meets all of the requirements to move forward for consideration by the Commission, the request is made public and is available for public comment for ten days.
Learn how to commentAO 2022-05 DSCC
Allocation of research expenses between national party committee and candidates' authorized committees.
AO 2022-04 Jill Stein for President
Payment of administrative fines and repayments to the U.S. Treasury by the principal campaign committee of a publicly financed candidate
AO 2022-03 Democracy Engine
Use of LLC’s web platform by corporations to solicit and track contributions to federal candidates and political committees.
Recent advisory opinions issued
The Commission issues an advisory opinion when four or more Commissioners vote to approve it. These votes almost always occur during an open meeting.
Explore all advisory opinionsAO 2022-02 Congressman W. Gregory Steube
Use of campaign funds for residence security gate
AO 2022-01 Joan Farr for U.S. Senate OK and KS
Distribution of candidate's book to contributors.
AO 2021-13 Hoh
Whether government benefit constitutes earned income for purposes of candidate salary provision
AO 2021-12 Congressman Adam Schiff and Schiff for Congress
Rental of campaign’s email list to promote candidate’s book.
AO 2021-11 DSCC and DCCC
Commission did not reach an agreement, so no advisory opinion was issued.