| Description: A practical, how-to guide and handbook for lobbyists, lobbying firms, associations and corporations and others who register and report under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 ("LDA"), as amended by the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 ("HLOGA"). Formatted in a desk-size 3-ring binder that can be updated as changes in the law, the guidance and forms are issued by the House, Senate and/or Internal Revenue Service. |
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| Outline of Compliance Handbook |
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| i. Introduction and Explanation |
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| PART 1: Compliance with LDA and HLOGA |
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| Chapter 1: Overview of the LDA Framework and Changes Contained in HLOGA |
| 1.1: |
History of LDA |
| 1.2: |
Changes to LDA Enacted by HLOGA |
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1.2.1: |
LD-1-Lobbying Registration |
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1.2.2: |
LD-2 Changes |
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1.2.3: |
LD-203-New Individual Filings by Lobbyists and Entities |
| 1.3: |
Common Questions on the Changes made to LDA by HLOGA |
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| Chapter 2: Back to LDA Basics |
| 2.1: |
Overview of Registration |
| 2.2: |
Registrants Reporting Lobbying Income |
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2.2.1: |
Registration of Individual Lobbyists |
| 2.3: |
Changes in LD-1 For Lobbyists Reporting Income |
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2.3.1: |
LDA Definition of Affiliate |
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2.3.2: |
Description of Client's Business |
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2.3.3: |
Disclosure of Lobbying Issues |
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2.3.4: |
Signing the LD-1 Registration Form |
| 2.4: |
Lobbyists Reporting Income for Lobbying Activities |
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2.4.1: |
Income |
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2.4.2: |
Issues Lobbied |
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2.4.3: |
Changes to Previously Filed Information |
| 2.5: |
Entities Reporting Lobbying Expenditures |
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2.5.1: |
The LDA and IRC |
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2.5.2: |
LD-1-Triggering Registration for Entities Reporting Expenditures |
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2.5.3: |
LD-2-Tracking and Reporting Lobbying Expenditures |
| 2.6: |
Common Questions on the Registration and Reporting Requirements of the LDA |
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| Chapter 3: Basic How-To for an LDA Compliance System |
| 3.1: |
Important Compliance Considerations after HLOGA |
| 3.2: |
Principles of HLOGA Internal Compliance Systems |
| 3.3: |
Components of Compliance Systems |
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3.3.1: |
Financial Tracking Systems |
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3.3.2: |
Report Preparation and Review |
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3.3.3: |
Document Retention and GAO Audits |
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3.3.4: |
LD-203 |
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3.3.5: |
Training of Lobbyist and Non-Lobbyist Employees |
| 3.4: |
Common Questions on the How-To for an LDA Compliance System |
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| PART 2: Modern Living Under the Ethics Rules |
| Introduction |
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| Chapter 4: Food, Entertaining and Dating |
| 4.1: |
The "No Gifts Rule" |
| 4.2: |
Making Sense of the Gift Rules and Exceptions |
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4.2.1: |
Definition of a gift |
| 4.3: |
The Lobbyists' Guide to Feeding and Entertaining a Member or Staffer |
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4.3.1: |
What is a meal? |
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4.3.2: |
Checklists for the Meals Exceptions |
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4.3.3: |
Disclosure of meals paid for by lobbyists or lobbying entities |
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4.3.4: |
De Minimis Allowance for Meals Offered/Furnished by Non-Lobbyists |
| 4.4: |
Parties, Receptions and Events |
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4.4.1: |
The "Nominal Value" Exception |
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4.4.2: |
Entertainment, Valet-Parking and Other Offerings to Guests |
| 4.5: |
Entertaining and Dating |
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4.5.1: |
Entertaining in the Home |
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4.5.2: |
Dating and Other Forms of Entertainment |
| 4.6: |
Special Occasions and Gifts |
| 4.7: |
Common Questions on Food, Entertaining and Dating |
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| Chapter 5: The Travel Section |
| 5.1: |
Introduction |
| 5.2: |
Official v. Officially Connected Travel |
| 5.3: |
Specific Situations Regarding Travel |
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5.3.1: |
Members/Staffers Speaking at a Conference or a Meeting in DC |
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5.3.2: |
Members/Staffers Speaking at a Conference, Attending a Meeting, or Participating in a Fact-Finding Trip Outside of DC |
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5.3.3: |
Other Travel Issues |
| 5.4: |
Important Miscellaneous Rules about Travel |
| 5.5: |
Common Questions on Travel |
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| Chapter 6: Executive Branch Gift Issues |
| 6.1: |
Introduction |
| 6.2: |
Key Provisions Related to the Executive Branch Gift Rules |
| 6.3: |
Exceptions to the Executive Branch Gift Rules |
| 6.4: |
Examples of Executive Branch Gift Rule Issues |
| 6.5: |
Common Questions on Executive Branch Gifts |
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| Chapter 7: Job Hunting on the Hill |
| 7.1: |
Introduction |
| 7.2: |
House Members |
| 7.3: |
House Staff |
| 7.4: |
Senators |
| 7.5: |
Senate Staff |
| 7.6: |
Common Questions on Post-Employment Restrictions |
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| Tables |
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| 2-1: |
Comparison of LDA and IRC Definitions |
| 4-1: |
Meals at a Glance as Defined by the Ethics Rules |
| 4-2: |
Drinks at the Bar - A Guide |
| 4-3: |
Dating Etiquette under HLOGA |
| 4-4: |
Guide to Valuation of Ticketed Events |
| 4-5: |
Special Occasions and Gifts |
| 5-1: |
Glossary of Travel Terms |
| 5-2: |
Travel Rules at a Glance |
| 5-3: |
Lobbyists' Involvement in Travel |
| 5-4: |
Gifts Allowed from Lobbyists and Lobbying Entities |
| 7-1: |
House Lobbying Restrictions at a Glance |
| 7-2: |
Senate Lobbying Restrictions at a Glance |
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| Appendices |
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| 1.1: |
LDA Guidance from House and Senate |
| 2.1: |
LDA Forms |
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2.1.1: |
LD-1 Registration Form |
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2.1.2: |
LD-2 Quarterly Reporting Form |
| 3.1: |
IRS Guidance and Definitions |
| 4.1: |
Dates to Remember |
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4.1.1: |
Deadlines for LD-2 Report |
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4.1.2: |
Deadlines for LD-203 |
| 5.1: |
PAC Contributions or Expenditures Records for LD-203 Report |
| 6.1: |
Sample Compliance Policy |
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6.1.1: |
Large Lobbying Firms |
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6.1.2: |
Small Lobbying Firms |
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6.1.3: |
Associations |
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6.1.4: |
Corporations |
| 7.1: |
Checklist for HLOGA Compliance |
| 8.1: |
Timesheet |
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8.1.1: |
Weekly Time Records |
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8.1.2: |
Monthly Time Records |
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8.1.3: |
IRC Definitions |
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8.1.4: |
LDA Definitions |
| 9.1: |
Sample response to requests from Members/staff for contributions |
| 10.1: |
Sample invitation from a member |
| 11.1: |
Sample new employee training |
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11.1.1: |
Training for lobbyists |
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11.1.2: |
Training for non-lobbyists |
| 12.1: |
Sample Gifts & Travel Statements for Registered Lobbyists |
| 13.1: |
Guidance on the Legislative Branch and Executive Branch Ethics/Gift Rules |
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13.1.1: |
House Rule XXV (Gifts) |
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13.1.2: |
Senate Rule XXXV (Gifts) |
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13.1.3: |
Executive Branch Gifts and Travel |
| 14.1: |
Other Senate Guidance |
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14.1.1: |
Senate Employment Negotiations |
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14.2.1: |
Definition of "Immediate Family" for Requested Appropriations |
| 15.1: |
Subject Index |
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