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Title 2, The CongressRelease 119-110

§1606 Penalties

Title 2 › CHAPTER 26 — DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES › § 1606

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

If someone knowingly fails to fix a bad filing within 60 days after the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House tells them, or knowingly breaks any other rule in this chapter, a court can impose a civil fine of up to $200,000 based on how serious the violation was, if it is proved by more-likely-than-not evidence. If someone knowingly and corruptly fails to follow any rule in this chapter, they can be sent to jail for up to 5 years, fined under title 18, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §1606

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Civil penalty
Whoever knowingly fails to—
(1)remedy a defective filing within 60 days after notice of such a defect by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives; or
(2)comply with any other provision of this chapter;
shall, upon proof of such knowing violation by a preponderance of the evidence, be subject to a civil fine of not more than $200,000, depending on the extent and gravity of the violation.
(b)Criminal penalty
Whoever knowingly and corruptly fails to comply with any provision of this chapter shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years or fined under title 18, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, 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

2007—Pub. L. 110–81 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, substituted “$200,000” for “$50,000” in concluding provisions, and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2007 Amendment Pub. L. 110–81, title II, § 211(b), Sept. 14, 2007, 121 Stat. 749, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to any violation committed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 14, 2007].”

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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 1606

Title 2, The Congress

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110