Lobbying Disclosure Act

Lobbying Disclosure Act - Title I: Regulation of Lobbying - Declares it to be the finding of Congress that many Americans believe that special interest groups get more from the Government than they do, and that the existing legislation designed to provide public disclosure of the efforts of such groups to affect the policymaking process fails in a narrow interpretation of those considered to be lobbyists and in the limitation to the legislative process.

Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to provide for the disclosure of the communications, activities, and the origin, amount, and utilization of funds and other resources of and by persons who seek to influence the legislative or executive process.

Defines terms used in this Act, including: (1) "Federal agency;" and (2) "officer or employee of the Congress." Includes in the definition of the term "lobbyist" a legislative agent retained to make executive or legislative communications; the person or organization employing the agent; the employees of any person or organization who are paid to make legislative communications when they make more than 15 in one quarter or 5 in one day; the person or organization for whom such employee works; any person who solicits at least 100 persons to make communications or contributions of $5000 or more to make such communications; and any person who solicits at least 25 persons who will be paid to make communications.

Requires each lobbyist to register with the Comptroller General of the United States within five days of first becoming a lobbyist and at times thereafter as stated in this Act. Requires the representation notice filed at the time of registration to set forth: (1) the identification of the lobbyist; (2) the identification of every person or whose behalf the lobbyist expects to perform services; (3) a description of the financial terms under which the lobbyist is employed; (4) each aspect to the legislative or the executive policymaking process which the lobbyist expects to seek to influence, including any officer, employee, or committee of the Congress or of any Federal agency to whom a communication is to be made; (5) the identification of any person who is expected to be acting for such lobbyist; and (6) the approximate number of members of a voluntary organization, and a description of the methods of operation of such an organization.

Requires lobbyists to maintain such records, including financial records, as the Comptroller General shall prescribe. Requires the identification of all sources of income.

Requires lobbyists to submit quarterly reports to the Comptroller General covering the lobbyist's activities during the quarter. Provides for the weekly filing of reports if required by the Comptroller General to give a timely accounting of activities related to a pending major issue.

Sets forth items of information which must be reported, including: (1) an identification of the lobbyists and the persons on whose behalf he has acted; (2) an identification of each decision of the legislative or executive policymaking process the lobbyist or anyone acting on his behalf; (3) a record of each oral and written communication expressing an opinion or containing information with respect to the Executive or legislative processes; (4) a copy of each written communication and a description of the procedures used by the lobbyist to solicit other persons to make executive or legislative communications and an estimate of the number of persons contacted and who engaged in lobbying; (5) the total income and expenditures of the lobbyist for lobbying; (6) an itemization of each expenditure made directly or indirectly to or for any Federal officer or employee which is over $15 within that quarter or which is in the aggregate is $60 a year; and (7) the amount and recipient of any contribution to a candidate for Federal office.

Title II: Disclosure of Executive Branch Communications - Requires any Federal agency official, as defined in this title, to prepare a record of any oral or written communication which he may receive which pertains to any agency activity or policy issue. Sets forth the information required to be included in such record, including the identification of the person with whom the communication occured, and a summary of the subject matter of such communication. Requires all such communications to be made available for public inspection and copying.

Title III: Duties of the Comptroller General - Directs the Comptroller General to administer this Act. Requires the Comptroller General: (1) to prepare forms and procedures for complying with this Act; (2) to develop a cross-indexing system to identify lobbyists with issues; and (3) to make notices of representation and reports available for public inspection.

Requires the Comptroller General to: (1) ascertain if any lobbyist has failed to comply with the disclosure requirements of this Act or if any Executive Branch officer or employee has failed to record communications with outside parties and to promptly report such failure to that person; (2) make audits and field investigations of failures to comply with this Act on its initiative or upon any complaint by an individual; (3) prepare reports for members of the House or Senate from materials in its files; and (4) when he deems necessary and is requested by any person to issued advisory opinions as to whether a person or activity is covered by this Act.

Sets forth the powers of the Comptroller General with respect to his or her enforcement of the provisions of this Act. Authorizes the Comptroller General to order a party, against whom a complaint has been filed alleging a violation of this Act, to cease and desist from the activity complained of if a hearing conducted by the Comptroller General shows the complaint to be valid.

Establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations of the provisions of this Act.

Provides for the bringing of actions in a United States district court to construe the constitutionality of any provision of this Act.

Title IV: General Provisions - Transfers to the Comptroller General all powers with respect to the registration and control of lobbyists.