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 commentThe principal campaign committee of a congressional candidate asks whether the committee may use campaign funds to pay the cost of the candidate’s health insurance premiums while the candidate works full-time on her campaign and maintains no other employment.
Advertising by online political forum.
Application of media exemption.
Nonauthorized committee use of abbreviation of candidate's name.
NORPAC, a political action committee, asks whether it may deduct a percentage fee from earmarked contributions that it forwards in order to reimburse its own solicitation and administrative costs.
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 opinions