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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 commentApplication of media exemption to nonprofit corporation's television and radio appearances and publication of books, articles, editorials, investigative reports, documentaries, a weekly podcast, short reels, and websites.
Deadline for AO request comments: March 17, 2025
Status as a state committee of a national political party.
Status as a state committee of a national political party.
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 opinionsStatus as a state committee of a national political party.
hybrid television advertisements
Payment of costs for television advertisements. (Commission did not reach an agreement, so no AO was issued.)
Whether for purposes of contribution limits the first round of a ranked choice voting election constitutes a general election, and each subsequent round, if any, is a distinct runoff election.
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.
Use of campaign funds for elder care expenses.