Lobbying Disclosure Act
A United States federal law requiring professional lobbyists to register and disclose their activities, clients, and expenditures.
Timeline (last 90 days)
The Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) is a US federal law enacted in 1995 that requires paid professional lobbyists to register with Congress and periodically disclose their activities, clients and spending.
Expressing policy views to one's own district's representative as a citizen falls under the right to petition protected by the First Amendment and does not require registering as a lobbyist.
If employed by an organization and systematically promoting specific legislation in a professional capacity, lobbying disclosure obligations may be triggered.
Many professional associations' congressional visits require participants to follow unified talking points, in order to frame the activity as "broad advocacy" rather than "paid lobbying for specific clients" and thus comply with the compliance framework.
All Facts (4)
The Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) is a US federal law enacted in 1995 that requires paid professional lobbyists to register with Congress and periodically disclose their activities, clients and spending.
50%UnverifiedExpressing policy views to one's own district's representative as a citizen falls under the right to petition protected by the First Amendment and does not require registering as a lobbyist.
50%UnverifiedIf employed by an organization and systematically promoting specific legislation in a professional capacity, lobbying disclosure obligations may be triggered.
50%UnverifiedMany professional associations' congressional visits require participants to follow unified talking points, in order to frame the activity as "broad advocacy" rather than "paid lobbying for specific clients" and thus comply with the compliance framework.
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