Reading Room Document

Anti-Lobbying Act Guidelines

This opinion provides a general guideline for federal officers and employees of the executive branch on the types of lobbying activities they are allowed to engage in. It states that officials may support an administration's legislative program through direct communications with Congress, communications with the public in speeches, writings, and appearances, and most forms of private communications to members of the public. Employees may not, however, engage in high-expenditure "grass roots" lobbying efforts. The guidelines are based on a prior 1989 OLC opinion authored by William Barr. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at https://justice.gov/olc/page/file/965136/download.

April 18, 1995