The Federal Election Commission can resume work. The Senate Tuesday ended a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over contentious appointments to the panel that oversees federal election and campaign finance laws. However, it has been unable to meet its responsibilities due to a lack of members.

Since the first of the year, there have been only two commissioners on the six-member panel, leaving it without a quorum. Four votes are needed to render a decision. However, the Senate has now filled the vacancies.

The commission consists of three appointees from both major parties. The delay began last year when Senate Democrats blocked the appointment of a controversial White House nominee and Republicans retaliated by preventing votes on Democratic nominees. The president's nominee last month withdrew his name from consideration.

The appointments came the same day the Democratic National Committee sued the agency for failing to act on a complaint about Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, who is backing out of his request for federal funds during the primary campaign.

The funding, which had been approved, imposes spending limits on the Arizona senator, but now he wishes to exceed those restrictions and does not need the federal funds. But there is a question of whether he used the pledge of funds to secure private financing, which would obligate him to abide by the limits.

However, the FEC also has to approve requests for federal funding for the general election, which is also being sought by Mr. McCain. But other matters need resolution by the FEC, among them rules for bundling campaign contributions and advertising done jointly by the national parties and federal candidates. Much work awaits the revived FEC.