Lobbying Disclosure Act

Examples of Lobbying Disclosure Act in the following topics:

• Lobbying Scandals and the Reforms of 2007

  • The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 sought to amend and strengthen parts of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
  • The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 is a law of the United States federal government that amended parts of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
  • It strengthens public disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills.
  • Requires lobbyist disclosures in both the Senate and House to be filed electronically and requires creation of a public searchable Internet database of such information.Increases civil penalty for knowing and willful violations of the Lobby Disclosure Act from 200,000 and imposes a criminal penalty of up to five years for knowing and corrupt failure to comply with the Act.
  • Describe the rules that the Honest Leadership and Open Government act put in place to regulate lobbying

• Direct Techniques

  • Direct lobbying is often used alongside grassroots lobbying.
  • The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 was signed into law by President Bill Clinton .
  • Under a January 1, 2006 revision, the act requires the registration of all lobbying entities with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
  • The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act was signed on September 15, 2007 by President Bush, amending the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
  • The bill includes provisions that require a quarterly report on lobby spending by organizations, places restrictions on gifts to Congress members, provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills, and places restrictions on the revolving door in direct lobbying.

• Regulating Congressional Lobbyists

  • Generally, the United States requires systematic disclosure of lobbying in all branches of government, including in Congress.
  • Many of the laws and guidelines are specified in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
  • According to the Lobbying Disclosure Act, several authorized definitions include: Lobbying activities means "lobbying contacts and efforts in support of such contacts, including preparation and planning activities, research and other background work that is intended, at the time it is performed, for use in contacts, and coordination with the lobbying activities of others. " Lobbying contact means "any oral or written communication (including an electronic communication) to a covered executive branch official or a covered legislative branch official."
  • There are numerous regulations governing the practice of lobbying, often ones requiring transparency and disclosure.
  • The resulting Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946) governed lobbying rules up until 1995 when the Lobbying Disclosure Act replaced it.

• The Reforms of 1995

  • The Lobbying and Disclosure Act of 1995 was legislation aimed at bringing a level of accountability to federal lobbying practices in the United States.
  • The Lobbying and Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. § 1601) was legislation aimed at bringing a level of accountability to federal lobbying practices in the United States.
  • This law was then amended substantially by the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
  • The Clerk and Secretary must refer any acts of non-compliance to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.
  • A person or entity whose employees act as lobbyists on its own behalf is both a client and an employer of such employees....".

• Indirect Techniques

  • Grassroots lobbying, or indirect lobbying, is a form of lobbying that focuses on raising awareness for a particular cause at the local level, with the intention of influencing the legislative process.
  • Grassroots lobbying is an approach that separates itself from direct lobbying through the act of asking the general public to contact legislators and government officials concerning the issue at hand, as opposed to conveying the message to the legislators directly.
  • Federal law does not mandate grassroots lobbying disclosure, yet 36 states regulate grassroots lobbying.
  • A group or individual classified as a lobbyist must submit regular disclosure reports; however, reporting requirements vary from state to state.
  • The First Amendment rights of free speech, freedom of association, and freedom of petition protect lobbying, including grassroots lobbying.

• Regulating Executive Branch Lobbyists

  • Lobbying the Executive Branch is similar to any other branch of the U.S. government and is regulated by laws pertaining to disclosure.
  • Most lobbying during the nineteenth century happened within state legislatures.
  • When lobbying did happen, it was often "practiced discreetly" with little or no public disclosure.
  • In many ways, lobbying the Executive Branch is similar to any other branch of the U.S. government and is thereby regulated by laws pertaining to disclosure discussed in Regulation Congressional Lobbyists.
  • Further complicating the relationship between lobbying and the Executive Branch is the fact that it is possible for one level of government to lobby another level.

• Results of the 1946 Act

  • The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 was a statute enacted by the United States Congress to reduce the influence of lobbyists.
  • The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 was specifically crafted to deal with this issue.
  • The provisions of the act define lobbying in the following manner:
  • Finally, the Court also ruled that the act only applied to individuals who spent at least half of their time lobbying.
  • Summarize the contents of the 1946 Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act and reactions to it

• Interest Groups

  • Lobbying (also lobby) is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government .
  • Individuals and nonprofit organizations can also lobby as an act of volunteering or as a small part of their normal job.
  • The ethics and morality of lobbying are dual-edged.
  • Governments often define and regulate organized group lobbying.
  • As a result, lobbying has become increasingly regulated.

• The Federal Election Campaign Act

  • The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is a United States federal law which increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns.
  • The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is a United States federal law which increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns.
  • Further regulation followed with the Federal Corrupt Practices Act enacted in 1910 with subsequent amendments in 1910 and 1925, the Hatch Act, the Smith-Connally Act of 1943, and the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947.
  • These acts sought to:
  • In 1971, Congress consolidated earlier reform efforts in the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), instituting more stringent disclosure requirements for federal candidates, political parties and political action committees.

• Current Issues in Reporting and Disclosure

  • Accountants must stay up to date with current issues in reporting and disclosures related to standards set by regulatory agencies.
  • Following the Enron scandal, changes were made to mark to market via the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002.
  • This act also implemented harsher penalties for fraud, such as enhanced prison sentences and fines for committing fraud.
  • Accountants must stay up to date with current issues in reporting and disclosure.
  • Give some examples of current issues in reporting and disclosure that an concern an accountant