Reading Room Document
Anti-Lobbying Laws
This document is a memorandum from the Assistant Attorney General to the Deputy Attorney General regarding the prohibitions on lobbying by federal officers, employees, and recipients of federal money. The document outlines the various statutes and appropriation riders that restrict the use of federal funds to influence legislation, and it emphasizes that the legislation has been narrowly interpreted to permit a wide range of contacts with Congress and interest groups. The conclusions reached in the document are that the legislation prohibits the use of federal funds for lobbying purposes, but it has been narrowly interpreted to allow certain activities. The questions presented for review include the specific restrictions imposed by different statutes and appropriation riders, as well as the need for case-by-case determination of the correct interpretation of these restrictions.
The OLC's Opinions
Opinions published by the OLC, including those released in response to our FOIA lawsuit