AO 2022-23 DataVault II
Corporate license of patented technology for political committee use in advertising.
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 2022-22 DataVault I
Corporate sale of non-fungible tokens ("NFTs") to political committees.
AO 2022-21 DSCC, Bennet for Colorado, and People for Patty Murray
Payment for television advertisements featuring candidates that solicit funds for national party committee’s legal proceedings account.
AO 2022-20 Maggie for NH
Application of coordinated communication rules to text messages soliciting contributions via "split-it" fundraising pages.
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 2022-19 Maggie for NH
Application of joint fundraising rules to text messages containing links to “split-it” fundraising pages
AO 2022-18 Fleming et al.
Redesignation of contributions to rescheduled primary election.
AO 2022-17 Warren Democrats, Inc.
Use of campaign funds for cybersecurity expenses
AO 2022-16 DSCC/DNC
Committee use of contributions deposited after the 10-day deadline
AO 2022-15 Harley Rouda for Congress
Repayment of candidate loan previously converted to candidate contribution, in light of FEC v. Cruz decision
AO 2022-14 Google LLC
Technology corporation's provision of pilot program testing new features in email product to authorized candidate committees, political party committees, and leadership political action committees.
AO 2022-13 Dr. Alan Gross/Northern Leadership PAC
Conversion of leadership PAC to authorized committee of candidate.
AO 2022-12 Ready for Ron
Provision of supporter names and contact information by nonconnected hybrid political committee to an individual who the committee seeks to draft to run for federal office.
AO 2022-11 State Democracy Defenders PAC
Solicitation of nonfederal funds by state parties and chairs.
AO 2022-10 Sprinkle
Use of online platform and FEC data for providing candidate information and contribution processing
AO 2022-09 Democratic Party of Wisconsin Federal
Joint fundraising committee established by state political party committee and nominee fund.
AO 2022-08 National Republican Congressional Committee
Contribution limits for campaigns with moved primaries.
AO 2022-07 Swalwell
Use of campaign funds to pay for childcare expenses
AO 2022-06 Hispanic Leadership Trust
Affiliation of non-connected committee with Congressional leadership PACs
AO 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.
AO 2022-02 Congressman W. Gregory Steube
Use of campaign funds for residence security gate