Law · Facts & sources
6 sourced facts about lobbying, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
AnswerQuarterly
Reports are due 20 days after the end of each quarter.
Source: Lobbying Disclosure Act Guidance (Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House) (2008) lda.congress.gov
Answer2 years
The rule comes from Senate Rule 37, alongside separate federal post-employment restrictions.
Source: U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics ethics.senate.gov
AnswerTwice a year (by Jan. 30 and July 30)
These semiannual reports list certain political contributions by lobbyists and their organizations.
Source: Lobbying Disclosure Act Guidance (Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House) (2008) lda.congress.gov
Answer1 year
Senior staff are those paid at least 75% of a senator's salary for at least 60 days in the prior year.
Source: U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics ethics.senate.gov
Answer$384 million
That's more than four times what the single biggest-spending organization paid.
Source: Washington Examiner, citing OpenSecrets data (2024) washingtonexaminer.com
AnswerNearly $37 billion
2024's total was about $1.2 billion above the average of the previous decade.
Source: Washington Examiner, citing OpenSecrets data (2024) washingtonexaminer.com