Lobbying records
How federal lobbying disclosure works
Federal lobbying disclosure makes certain registrations and activity reportable. The records are useful evidence of what a filer reported, not a complete diary of contacts or proof of a result.
Reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Examples cover Q1–Q2 2026 lobbying records and 119th Congress legislative records
Registration and activity are different
An LD-1 registers a lobbying relationship and identifies the registrant, client, and covered issues. An LD-2 reports activity for a quarter. Registration does not substitute for a quarterly report, and a quarter with no published match does not prove that no lobbying occurred.
Client, registrant, and listed lobbyist
The client is the organization on whose behalf lobbying is reported. The registrant files the record: it may be the client itself as an in-house filer or an outside firm. A listed lobbyist is a person named in the filing; that field does not by itself resolve identity, document every contact, or justify a Gov Influence person profile.
Codes, descriptions, and amendments
Issue codes are broad official categories. The specific-issue description preserves the filer's own wording and is usually more precise. Amendments can replace earlier versions, so Gov Influence retains one canonical filing for the same client, registrant, year, and quarter using posting time, amendment status, and filing ID as deterministic tie-breakers.
Worked example from the current collection
The Boeing Q1–Q2 2026 profile contains both a Boeing Company in-house filing and outside-registrant filings for approved Boeing client names. The client field identifies Boeing; the registrant field tells you which reporting basis applies. Issue codes and original descriptions explain the disclosed subjects, while the separate income or expense field identifies the amount type.
How to read this on a profile
- Start with the reporting quarter and source-record client name.
- Check whether the registrant is the organization itself or an outside registrant.
- Read the broad issue code beside the original specific-issue wording.
- Check the amendment and canonical-version note before counting records.
- Follow the direct filing link and note the retrieval and review dates.
Visitor checklist
- Is this an LD-1 registration or LD-2 activity report?
- Who is the client and who is the registrant?
- Is the person merely listed, or is identity independently reviewed?
- Which quarter and version does the record cover?
- Is the amount income or expenses?
- What does the filing not establish?