FEC Advisory Opinions Formally Create Super PAC Legal Framework (2010-07-22)

The Federal Election Commission approved two advisory opinions that formally established the legal framework for independent expenditure-only committees, known as super PACs. Advisory Opinion 2010-09 (Club for Growth) and AO 2010-11 (Commonsense Ten, later Senate Majority PAC) granted permission for groups to accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, and unions for independent expenditures. The decisions provided standard sample wording for super PAC qualification that remains in use today. FEC Chairman Steven T. Walther dissented on both opinions.