Regulation of Lobbying Activities
Current Law and Legislative Proposals
A fundamental tenet of the American legal system is the First Amendment’s prohibition against any law abridging the freedom of speech, the right of the people to peacefully assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Consistent with these constitutional rights, however, Congress has regulated lobbying activities, primarily through the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) of 1995, as amended by the Lobbying Disclosure Technical Amendments Act of 1998.The LDA generally requires lobbyists who are compensated for their actions, whether individuals or firms, to register and file semiannual reports of their activities with the Secretary of the Senate and…
