Your web browser is not supported You're using Internet Explorer, some features might not work. Please switch to another browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for a better experience.


An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Federal Election Commission | United States of America Calendar
           Glossary
          Search
              Search


Menu
      Home
      Campaign finance data
        All data
            Raising
            Spending
            Loans and debts
            Filings and reports
            Candidates
            Committees
            Bulk data
            Campaign finance statistics
        Find elections. Search by state or ZIP code
          Look up contributions from specific individuals
      Help for candidates and committees
        All compliance resources
            Guides
            Forms
            Dates and deadlines
            Trainings
        Learn about electronic filing
          Find and contact your committee's analyst
      Legal resources
        All legal resources
            Advisory opinions
            Enforcement
            Statutes
            Legislation
            Regulations
            Court cases
            Policy and other guidance
        Search across legal resources
          Search guidance documents
      About
        All about the FEC
            News and announcements
            Commission meetings
            Mission and history
            Leadership and structure
            Reports about the FEC
            Careers
            Working with the FEC
            Contact
        Introduction to campaign finance and elections


- Home
- ›
      FEC Record: Advisory opinions
- ›
      AO 2017-10: Independent expenditure-only committee’s proposed activities would not result in coordinated communications

FEC Record: Advisory opinionsAO 2017-10: Independent expenditure-only committee’s proposed activities would not result in coordinated communicationsSeptember 25, 2017 Citizens Against Plutocracy’s plans to ask candidates for federal office to sign a “Contract for American Renewal” would not result in coordination with
    those candidates. Background Citizens Against Plutocracy (the committee), an independent expenditure-only political committee (Super PAC) registered with the
    FEC, developed a “Contract for American Renewal” (Contract), a negotiable list of issues on which candidates would commit to take legislative action if elected. The committee will encourage voters via email, social media and their website to support
    candidates who sign the Contract. The committee will not discuss with a candidate how it will spend its money or communicate with any candidate about advertisements it may run or public communications    it may make. After a candidate signs a Contract, the committee will cease communication with that candidate and the candidate’s campaign. Analysis Under the *Federal Election Campaign Act*, expenditures that are coordinated with a candidate or a political party committee are treated as contributions to that candidate or political
    party committee. An independent expenditure-only political committee “may not make contributions to candidates or political party committees, including in-kind contributions such as
    coordinated communications.” In determining whether a communication is coordinated, Commission regulations provide for a three-prong test. First, the communication must be paid for, in whole or in part, by a person other than the candidate committee or political party committee. Second, the communication must satisfy one of five content
    standards. Third, the communications must satisfy one of five conduct standards. Because the committee’s proposed use of the Contract (specifically, placing the Contract on the committee’s website or including the Contract in emails from the committee to current or potential supporters) would not constitute electioneering communications or public communications, its proposed activities do not meet the content prong of the coordinated communications test. As aresult, the committee's proposed activities would not constitute
    coordinated communications. Date issued: September 20, 2017; Length 4 pages Relevant citations:  Statute: 52 U.S.C. §30116Limitations on contributions and expenditures   Regulations: 11 CFR109.21What is a “coordinated communication”?  Resources:  Advisory opinion 2017-10
    Commission consideration of advisory opinion 2017-10
 Author
          Paul StoetzerSr. Communications Specialist


Read next: AO 2017-06: App lets donors give to candidates by rounding up credit and debit card purchases
 Related: Explore campaign finance data »


This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.


About
          Careers
          Press
          Contact
   Privacy and security policy
          Plain language
          Accessibility statement
          Strategy, budget and performance
 No FEAR Act
          Open government
          Protected Voices
          USA.gov
          Inspector General
 FOIA
          OpenFEC API
          GitHub repository
          Release notes
          FEC.gov status


Federal Election Commission
 The FEC's Twitter page
            The FEC's YouTube page Sign up for FECMail
 This information is produced and disseminated at U.S. taxpayer expense.


Hide glossary Glossary Search terms