Lobbying Disclosure Act Registration and Disclosure

Summary

This practice note discusses the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA), as amended, which requires registration and disclosure of lobbyists' activities in connection with "lobbying contacts" made to all members of Congress, congressional staff, and key executive branch officials on any legislation or other federal policy matters. See Pub. L. No. 104-65. The LDA replaced the Federal Regulation Lobbying Act of 1946, which proved ambiguous and toothless subsequent to the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Harriss. United States v. Harriss, 347 U.S. 612 (1954). The LDA more clearly and broadly defines who is a "lobbyist" subject to registration and reporting requirements and significantly broadens the scope of "lobbying" to include contacts made with both legislative and executive branch officials. And unlike the former law, the 1995 Act contains more significant enforcement mechanisms.