§ 1603. — Registration of lobbyists.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 2USC1603]
TITLE 2--THE CONGRESS
CHAPTER 26--DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
Sec. 1603. Registration of lobbyists
(a) Registration
(1) General rule
No later than 45 days after a lobbyist first makes a lobbying
contact or is employed or retained to make a lobbying contact,
whichever is earlier, such lobbyist (or, as provided under paragraph
(2), the organization employing such lobbyist), shall register with
the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Employer filing
Any organization that has 1 or more employees who are lobbyists
shall file a single registration under this section on behalf of
such employees for each client on whose behalf the employees act as
lobbyists.
(3) Exemption
(A) General rule
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), a person or entity
whose--
(i) total income for matters related to lobbying
activities on behalf of a particular client (in the case of
a lobbying firm) does not exceed and is not expected to
exceed $5,000; or
(ii) total expenses in connection with lobbying
activities (in the case of an organization whose employees
engage in lobbying activities on its own behalf) do not
exceed or are not expected to exceed $20,000,
(as estimated under section 1604 of this title) in the
semiannual period described in section 1604(a) of this title
during which the registration would be made is not required to
register under this subsection with respect to such client.
(B) Adjustment
The dollar amounts in subparagraph (A) shall be adjusted--
(i) on January 1, 1997, to reflect changes in the
Consumer Price Index (as determined by the Secretary of
Labor) since December 19, 1995; and
(ii) on January 1 of each fourth year occurring after
January 1, 1997, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price
Index (as determined by the Secretary of Labor) during the
preceding 4-year period,
rounded to the nearest $500.
(b) Contents of registration
Each registration under this section shall contain--
(1) the name, address, business telephone number, and principal
place of business of the registrant, and a general description of
its business or activities;
(2) the name, address, and principal place of business of the
registrant's client, and a general description of its business or
activities (if different from paragraph (1));
(3) the name, address, and principal place of business of any
organization, other than the client, that--
(A) contributes more than $10,000 toward the lobbying
activities of the registrant in a semiannual period described in
section 1604(a) of this title; and
(B) in whole or in major part plans, supervises, or controls
such lobbying activities.
(4) the name, address, principal place of business, amount of
any contribution of more than $10,000 to the lobbying activities of
the registrant, and approximate percentage of equitable ownership in
the client (if any) of any foreign entity that--
(A) holds at least 20 percent equitable ownership in the
client or any organization identified under paragraph (3);
(B) directly or indirectly, in whole or in major part,
plans, supervises, controls, directs, finances, or subsidizes
the activities of the client or any organization identified
under paragraph (3); or
(C) is an affiliate of the client or any organization
identified under paragraph (3) and has a direct interest in the
outcome of the lobbying activity;
(5) a statement of--
(A) the general issue areas in which the registrant expects
to engage in lobbying activities on behalf of the client; and
(B) to the extent practicable, specific issues that have (as
of the date of the registration) already been addressed or are
likely to be addressed in lobbying activities; and
(6) the name of each employee of the registrant who has acted or
whom the registrant expects to act as a lobbyist on behalf of the
client and, if any such employee has served as a covered executive
branch official or a covered legislative branch official in the 2
years before the date on which such employee first acted (after
December 19, 1995) as a lobbyist on behalf of the client, the
position in which such employee served.
(c) Guidelines for registration
(1) Multiple clients
In the case of a registrant making lobbying contacts on behalf
of more than 1 client, a separate registration under this section
shall be filed for each such client.
(2) Multiple contacts
A registrant who makes more than 1 lobbying contact for the same
client shall file a single registration covering all such lobbying
contacts.
(d) Termination of registration
A registrant who after registration--
(1) is no longer employed or retained by a client to conduct
lobbying activities, and
(2) does not anticipate any additional lobbying activities for
such client,
may so notify the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives and terminate its registration.
(Pub. L. 104-65, Sec. 4, Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 696.)
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 1604, 1609, 1610 of this
title.