Definition: An advisory opinion  is an  opinion  issued by a court or a commission (like an election commission) that does not have the effect of adjudicating a specific  legal  case, but merely advises on the constitutionality or interpretation of a law.

USE: Most cases forwarded to the national office require informal consultation or clarification. The advisory is utilized for a formal state statute or compact rules review. Since January 2011, the Commission has issued twenty-one opinions.

PROCESS: State Commissioner may submit a request with the case details to the Executive Director (ED) for consideration. If approved, the ED and General Counsel will craft and submit the advisory to the Executive Committee (EXCOM) for approval at their monthly meeting prior to dissemination to the Commission and posting on the MIC3 website