The Federal Election Commission has concluded that a membership organization considering forming a political action committee does not have to hold a vote of its members on whether to start a PAC.

In the unanimous vote, the commission approved an advisory opinion on the matter that was requested by a group of retired local government employees who worked for Contra Costa County, Calif.

FEC rules do focus on how membership organizations can raise PAC funds used for federal candidates or independent campaign expenditures. But the FEC concluded that federal campaign finance law and commission rules do not require an incorporated membership organization - such as the Contra Costa County group - to use any specific internal process when creating a PAC.

The FEC, in its first open meeting of the New Year, approved the advisory opinion with little discussion, though the agency did note that there are reporting requirements triggered by certain actions involved in creating a PAC. These include filing of a "Statement of Organization" within 10 days after an organization's board of directors votes to form a PAC.