AO 2024-10 Alan Lowenthal and Alan Lowenthal for Congress
Use of campaign funds by former candidate and officeholder to pay a researcher or editor for drafting of books or other publications related to his time in Congress.
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 processOnce 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 commentUse of campaign funds by former candidate and officeholder to pay a researcher or editor for drafting of books or other publications related to his time in Congress.
Use of campaign funds for elder care expenses.
Candidate participation in joint fundraising activities with IEOPC participant
Cost reporting for Independent Expenditure mailings.
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 opinionsRedesignation of general election contributions to recount fund.
Federal candidates and officeholders soliciting funds for state ballot measure committee.
Disaffiliation of SSFs
Use of web platform and mobile app to allow subscribers to contribute to candidates and national political party committees and to provide candidate meeting information to users and subscribers. (Commission did not reach an agreement so no AO was issued.)
Reimbursement of federal committee by non-federal candidates and committees for pro rata share of brochure.
Whether the literature and scripts produced for a paid canvass are public communications and/or coordinated communications; whether data that arises from a paid canvass and is provided to a federal candidate or party committee at less than fair market value is a contribution.