FEC Advisory Opinions Archive Clarifies Campaign Finance Law

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) offers a comprehensive online archive of advisory opinions for individuals seeking to understand how federal campaign finance law applies to specific situations.

The archive contains official responses to questions about campaign finance regulations dating back to 1975. For opinions issued from 1990 to the present, the archive also includes related documents such as requests, drafts, and public comments.

The FEC clarifies that these opinions interpret the law but do not replace it or create new rights or obligations.

To obtain an advisory opinion, individuals submit a request detailing a specific, factual scenario. The FEC's Office of the General Counsel reviews requests for completeness. If requirements are met, the request is made public for a 10-day comment period.

Recent advisory opinion requests include:

• AO 2026-02: The Cascade Party of Washington, concerning state party committee status.
• AO 2026-01: The Placer County Republican Central Committee, regarding the permissibility and reporting of certain funds.
• AO 2025-08: The Coolidge Reagan Foundation, addressing the legal services exception to the definition of a contribution.

The FEC officially issues advisory opinions when four or more Commissioners vote to approve them during open meetings. The agency recommends consulting the Federal Campaign Act of 1971, Commission regulations, and applicable court decisions for a complete understanding of campaign finance law.