§1602 Definitions

Summary

Defines words used in this chapter. It gives short, plain meanings for terms people will see later, like who counts as a client, lobbyist, public official, and what a lobbying contact is. Agency: means what 5 U.S.C. 551(1) says. Client: a person or group that hires someone and pays them to do lobbying. Covered executive branch official: the President, the Vice President, people in the Executive Office of the President, officers at Executive Schedule levels I–V, members of the uniformed services at pay grade O–7 or above, and officials in certain confidential or policy jobs under 5 U.S.C. 7511(b)(2)(B). Covered legislative branch official: a Member of Congress, an elected officer of either House, or employees and staff of Members, committees, leadership, joint committees, working groups or caucuses that help Members, and other legislative employees listed in 5 U.S.C. 13101(13). Employee: an officer, employee, partner, director, or owner, but not independent contractors or unpaid volunteers. Foreign entity: means a “foreign principal” as defined in 22 U.S.C. 611(b). Lobbying activities: lobbying contacts plus the planning, research, and coordination done to support those contacts. Lobbying contact: a spoken or written message to a covered official made for a client about Federal legislation, rules or policies, program administration (like contracts, grants, permits), or nominations requiring Senate confirmation; many routine or public communications are excluded (for example, official public statements, news reporting, testimony to Congress, answers to official requests for information, certain committee or advisory committee work, compelled disclosures, certain religious or whistleblower communications, and specific agency or regulator exchanges). Lobbying firm: a person or group that has one or more employees who are lobbyists for a client, and it also includes self‑employed lobbyists. Lobbyist: someone paid by a client who makes more than one lobbying contact, unless lobbying takes up less than 20 percent of their work for that client over a 3‑month period. Media organization: a group that publishes or broadcasts news to the public. Member of Congress: a Senator, Representative, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner. Organization: any entity except an individual. Person or entity: any individual, corporation, company, foundation, association, labor organization, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, group of organizations, or State or local government. Public official: an elected, appointed, or employed official of Federal, State, or local government (with listed exceptions like colleges, certain government-sponsored enterprises, public utilities, certain guaranty agencies, and certain student loan market agencies), and also includes government corporations, organizations of officials, Indian tribes, political parties, and foreign government units. State: each State, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.