[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 11, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 11CFR7.15]

[Page 37-38]
 
                       TITLE 11--FEDERAL ELECTIONS
 
                 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
 
PART 7_STANDARDS OF CONDUCT--Table of Contents
 
  Subpart B_Conduct and Responsibilities of Employees or Commissioners
 
Sec.  7.15  Ex parte communications.

    In order to avoid the possibility of prejudice, real or apparent, to 
the public interest in enforcement actions pending before the Commission 
pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 437g(A) (1) or (2):
    (a) Except to the extent required for the disposition of ex parte 
matters as required by law (as, for example, during the normal course of 
an investigation or a conciliation effort), no Commissioner or employee 
involved in the decisional process shall make or entertain any ex parte 
communications.
    (b) The prohibition of this section shall apply from the time a 
complaint is filed with the Commission pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 437(a)(1) or 
from the time that the Commission determines on the basis of information 
ascertained in the normal course of its supervisory responsibilities 
that it has reason to believe that a violation has occurred or may occur 
pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 437g(a)(2), and shall remain in force until the 
Commission has concluded all action with respect to the enforcement 
matter in question.
    (c) Any written communication prohibited by paragraph (a) of this 
section shall be delivered to the Ethics Officer of the Commission who 
shall place the communication in the file of the case.
    (d) A Commissioner or employee, other than the employee assigned to 
the case, involved in handling enforcement actions who receives an oral 
offer

[[Page 38]]

or any communication concerning any enforcement action pending before 
the Commission as described in paragraph (a) of this section shall 
decline to listen to such communication. If unsuccessful in preventing 
the communication, the Commissioner or employee shall advise the person 
making the communication that he or she will not consider the 
communication and shall prepare a statement setting forth the substance 
and circumstances of the communication within 48 hours of receipt of the 
communication and shall deliver the statement to the Ethics Officer for 
placing in the file in the manner set forth in paragraph (c) of this 
section.