Lobbying Registrations

20,649 active lobbying representations

57% involve at least one revolving-door lobbyist

89 new lobbying registrations this month

It can seem like lobbyists run Washington from behind the scenes. But their work isn't completely hidden. They’re required to register with the House and the Senate when they lobby for a new client. And former members of Congress, former congressional staffers and former high-level federal workers who now work as lobbyists—the so-called “revolving door” — are required to disclose their "covered" former positions. You can use this database to find out who's lobbying on whose behalf — and on what issues. Here's a guide.

Top issues for lobbying arrangements begun this month:

See all issues

New Lobbying Registrations By Quarter

Hundreds of new lobbying disclosures are filed every year. They typically spike at the beginning of the year and when new Congresses are sworn in every two years.

What Information Must Lobbyists Disclose, and When?

Lobbying firms and lobbyists are required to file paperwork identifying themselves, their client, and the policy issues they are working on. The registrations are filed with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The rules about when firms (or organizations that employ their own lobbyists) have to register are complex, involving the amount of money spent in a quarter, the number of contacts with "covered officials" — executive branch employees, lawmakers and their staff — and the amount of time workers spend on non-lobbying activities. Because of this, some companies that might seem to be lobbying by an ordinary definition may not be included in this database.

Once a lobbying relationship has been registered, the lobbyists are required to file updates four times a year. Those updates aren't currently included in this database… yet.

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate

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