---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 1603"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "1603"
heading: "Registration of lobbyists"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/1603"
units:
  - "Chapter 26 — Disclosure of Lobbying Activities"
---

# §1603. Registration of lobbyists

- (a) **Registration—**
  - (1) **General rule—** No later than 45 days after a [lobbyist](/usc/2/1602.md?p=10) first makes a [lobbying contact](/usc/2/1602.md?p=8-A) or is employed or retained to make a [lobbying contact](/usc/2/1602.md?p=8-A), whichever is earlier, or on the first business day after such 45th day if the 45th day is not a business day, such [lobbyist](/usc/2/1602.md?p=10) (or, as provided under [paragraph (2)](#a-2), the [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13) employing such [lobbyist](/usc/2/1602.md?p=10)), shall register with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
  - (2) **Employer filing—** Any [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13) that has 1 or more [employees](/usc/2/1602.md?p=5) who are [lobbyists](/usc/2/1602.md?p=10) shall file a single registration under this section on behalf of such [employees](/usc/2/1602.md?p=5) for each [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) on whose behalf the employees act as [lobbyists](/usc/2/1602.md?p=10).
  - (3) **Exemption—**
    - (A) **General rule—** Notwithstanding paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) and [(2)](#a-2), a [person or entity](/usc/2/1602.md?p=14) whose—
      - (i) total income for matters related to [lobbying activities](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7) on behalf of a particular [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) (in the case of a [lobbying firm](/usc/2/1602.md?p=9)) does not exceed and is not expected to exceed $2,500; or
      - (ii) total expenses in connection with [lobbying activities](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7) (in the case of an [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13) whose [employees](/usc/2/1602.md?p=5) engage in [lobbying activities](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7) on its own behalf) do not exceed or are not expected to exceed $10,000,

        (as estimated under [section 1604 of this title](/usc/2/1604.md)) in the quarterly period described in [section 1604(a) of this title](/usc/2/1604.md?p=a) during which the registration would be made is not required to register under this subsection with respect to such [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2).

    - (B) **Adjustment—** The dollar amounts in [subparagraph (A)](#a-3-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](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2), and a general description of its business or activities (if different from [paragraph (1)](#b-1));
  - (3) the name, address, and principal place of business of any [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13), other than the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2), that—
    - (A) contributes more than $5,000 to the registrant or the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) in the quarterly period to fund the [lobbying activities](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7) of the registrant; and
    - (B) actively participates in the planning, supervision, or control of such [lobbying activities](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7);
  - (4) the name, address, principal place of business, amount of any contribution of more than $5,000 to the [lobbying activities](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7) of the registrant, and approximate percentage of equitable ownership in the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) (if any) of any [foreign entity](/usc/2/1602.md?p=6) that—
    - (A) holds at least 20 percent equitable ownership in the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) or any [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13) identified under [paragraph (3)](#b-3);
    - (B) directly or indirectly, in whole or in major part, plans, supervises, controls, directs, finances, or subsidizes the activities of the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) or any [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13) identified under [paragraph (3)](#b-3); or
    - (C) is an affiliate of the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) or any [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13) identified under [paragraph (3)](#b-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](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7) on behalf of the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2); 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](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7);
  - (6) the name of each [employee](/usc/2/1602.md?p=5) of the registrant who has acted or whom the registrant expects to act as a [lobbyist](/usc/2/1602.md?p=10) on behalf of the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) and, if any such [employee](/usc/2/1602.md?p=5) has served as a [covered executive branch official](/usc/2/1602.md?p=3) or a [covered legislative branch official](/usc/2/1602.md?p=4) in the 20 years before the date on which the [employee](/usc/2/1602.md?p=5) first acted as a [lobbyist](/usc/2/1602.md?p=10) on behalf of the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2), the position in which such [employee](/usc/2/1602.md?p=5) served; and
  - (7) for any listed [lobbyist](/usc/2/1602.md?p=10) who was convicted in a Federal or [State](/usc/2/1602.md?p=16) court of an offense involving bribery, extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering, the date of the conviction and a description of the offense.

  No disclosure is required under [paragraph (3)(B)](#b-3-B) if the [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13) that would be identified as affiliated with the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) is listed on the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2)’s publicly accessible Internet website as being a [member](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) of or contributor to the [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2), unless the [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13) in whole or in major part plans, supervises, or controls such [lobbying activities](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7). If a registrant relies upon the preceding sentence, the registrant must disclose the specific Internet address of the web [page](/usc/2/4916.md?p=2) containing the information relied upon. Nothing in [paragraph (3)(B)](#b-3-B) shall be construed to require the disclosure of any information about individuals who are [members](/usc/2/4556.md?p=2) of, or donors to, an entity treated as a [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) by this chapter or an [organization](/usc/2/1602.md?p=13) identified under that paragraph.

- (c) **Guidelines for registration—**
  - (1) **Multiple clients—** In the case of a registrant making [lobbying contacts](/usc/2/1602.md?p=8-A) on behalf of more than 1 [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2), a separate registration under this section shall be filed for each such [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Multiple contacts—** A registrant who makes more than 1 [lobbying contact](/usc/2/1602.md?p=8-A) for the same [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) shall file a single registration covering all such [lobbying contacts](/usc/2/1602.md?p=8-A).
- (d) **Termination of registration—** A registrant who after registration—
  - (1) is no longer employed or retained by a [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2) to conduct [lobbying activities](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7), and
  - (2) does not anticipate any additional [lobbying activities](/usc/2/1602.md?p=7) for such [client](/usc/2/1602.md?p=2),

  may so notify the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives and terminate its registration.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–65, § 4, Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 696; Pub. L. 110–81, title II, §§ 201(b)(2), (5), 207(a)(1), (b), 208, Sept. 14, 2007, 121 Stat. 742, 747, 748; Pub. L. 115–418, § 2(a), Jan. 3, 2019, 132 Stat. 5440.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act” meaning Pub. L. 104–65, Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 691, known as the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

2019—Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 115–418 added par. (7).

2007—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 110–81, § 201(b)(2)(A), inserted “or on the first business day after such 45th day if the 45th day is not a business day,” after “earlier,”.

Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 110–81, § 201(b)(2)(B), substituted “quarterly period” for “semiannual period” in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 110–81, § 201(b)(5)(A), substituted “$2,500” for “$5,000”.

Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 110–81, § 201(b)(5)(B), substituted “$10,000” for “$20,000”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–81, § 207(b), inserted concluding provisions.

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 110–81, § 207(a)(1)(A), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “contributes more than $5,000 toward the lobbying activities of the registrant in a semiannual period described in section 1604(a) of this title; and”.

Pub. L. 110–81, § 201(b)(5)(C), substituted “$5,000” for “$10,000”.

Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 110–81, § 207(a)(1)(B), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “in whole or in major part plans, supervises, or controls such lobbying activities.”

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 110–81, § 201(b)(5)(D), substituted “$5,000” for “$10,000” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 110–81, § 208, substituted “in the 20 years before the date on which the employee first acted” for “in the 2 years before the date on which such employee first acted (after December 19, 1995)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Except as otherwise provided, amendment by Pub. L. 110–81 applicable with respect to registrations under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (this chapter) having an effective date of Jan. 1, 2008, or later and with respect to quarterly reports under that Act covering calendar quarters beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2008, see section 215 of Pub. L. 110–81, set out as a note under section 30104 of Title 52, Voting and Elections.

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 24 of Pub. L. 104–65, set out as a note under section 1601 of this title.