Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995

The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. § 1601 (https://

www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/1601)) was legislation in the Lobbying Disclosure Act
United States aimed at bringing increased accountability to federal of 2022
lobbying practices in the United States. The law was amended
substantially by the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
of 2007.[1] Under provisions which took effect on January 1,
1996, federal lobbyists are required to register with the Clerk of the
United States House of Representatives and the Secretary of the
United States Senate. Anyone failing to do so is punishable by a
civil fine of up to $50,000. The clerk and secretary must refer any
acts of non-compliance to the United States Attorney for the
Long title An Act to provide for
District of Columbia.
the disclosure of
A consequence of the act is that the act "removed from Foreign lobbying activities to
influence the
Agents Registration Act a class of agents who are engaged in
Federal
lobbying activities and who register under the LDA. This Act is
Government, and
administered by Congress."[2] for other purposes.
Acronyms LDA
Bill provisions (colloquial)
Enacted by the 104th United
States Congress
Definitions Effective December 19, 1995
Citations
The LDA defines a number of provisions attempting to maintain a
degree of transparency in the activities of lobbyists. The legislation Public law 104-65 (https://ww
defines a client as "any person or entity that employs or retains w.gpo.gov/fdsys/pk
another person for financial or other compensation to conduct g/STATUTE-109/pd
lobbying activities on behalf of that person or entity. A person or f/STATUTE-109-Pg6
entity whose employees act as lobbyists on its own behalf is both a 91.pdf)
client and an employer of such employees." The legislation also Statutes at 109 Stat. 691 (htt
defines "lobbyist": "The term "lobbyist" means any individual Large p://legislink.org/us/st
who is employed or retained by a client for financial or other at-109-691)
compensation for services that include more than one lobbying Codification
contact, other than an individual whose lobbying activities Titles 2 U.S.C.: Congress
constitute less than 20 percent of the time engaged in the services amended
provided by such individual to that client over a three-month U.S.C. 2 U.S.C. ch. 26 (http
period". Also included in the legislation are the definitions of what sections s://www.law.cornell.
actions must be disclosed which includes lobbying to certain created edu/uscode/text/2/c
members of the Executive Branch who are included on specific hapter-26) § 1601
payrolls. Also included are members of Congress.[3] et seq.
Legislative history
Exceptions Introduced in the Senate as
S. 1060 (https://www.congress.g
ov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bil
The legislation does not include those lobbyists whose "activities l/1060) by Carl Levin (D–MI) on
constitute less than 20 percent of the time engaged in services", July 21, 1995
thus failing to regulate grassroots (small donors) lobbying. The Committee consideration by
LDA includes a number of other "thresholds" that define what House Judiciary, House
must be recorded. Any organization that spends more than $10,000 Government Reform and
towards lobbying activities must also be registered. Amounts even Oversight, House Rules, House
slightly below this threshold are exempt from reporting. The Ways and Means
outline for registration includes "name, address, business telephone Passed the Senate on July 25,
number, and principal place of business of the registrant, and a 1995 (98-0, Roll call vote 328 (h
general description of its business or activities", as well as for the ttp://www.senate.gov/legislative/
client. The register must also include a statement of what issues the LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_
registrant expects to lobby or what may have already been lobbied. cfm.cfm?congress=104&session
=1&vote=00328), via
After recording, the records are maintained by the Clerk of the Senate.gov)
House and the Secretary of the Senate. Due to severe Passed the House on
understaffing, these two offices are unable to check for illegal November 29, 1995 (passed
activities or corrupt practices, which is the most glaring voice vote, provisions of
shortcoming of the legislation. H.Res. 269 (https://www.congre
ss.gov/bill/104th-congress/hous
During a hearing before the Senate Committee on Rules and e-resolution/269))
Administration, Senator Christopher Dodd stated that "[s]ince Signed into law by President
2003, the Office of Public Records has referred over 2,000 cases William J. Clinton on December
to the Department of Justice, and nothing's been heard from them 19, 1995
again".[4]

See also
Lobbying in the United States
1996 United States campaign finance controversy
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946

References
1. Babington, Charles; Associated Press (September 15, 2007). "Bush Signs Lobby-Ethics
Bill" (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/15/AR200709150058
9.html). Washington Post. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20120507110209/http://ww
w.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/15/AR2007091500589.html) from the
original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
2. "General FARA Frequently Asked Questions" (https://www.justice.gov/nsd-fara/general-fara-f
requently-asked-questions). August 21, 2017. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/202004
13221226/https://www.justice.gov/nsd-fara/general-fara-frequently-asked-questions) from
the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
3. 2 U.S.C. § 1602 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/1602): Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities — Definitions
4. "Lobbying Reform: Background and Legislative Proposals, 109th Congress" (http://www.fas.
org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33065.pdf) (PDF). Order Code RL33065. The Library of Congress,
Congressional Research Service. March 23, 2006. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20
 061012014152/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33065.pdf) (PDF) from the original on
October 12, 2006. Retrieved January 9, 2007.

External links
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-902/uslm/C
OMPS-902.xml) (PDF (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-902/pdf/COMPS-902.p
df)/details (https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/COMPS-902/)) as amended in the GPO
Statute Compilations collection (https://www.govinfo.gov/help/comps)

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