Final answer:
Approximately 12,000 lobbyists are currently registered with Congress, with regulations set by the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
Step-by-step explanation:
Approximately 12,000 lobbyists are currently registered with Congress. The number of registered lobbyists can fluctuate, with the total contracting from roughly 13,000 to around 11,000 between 2009 and 2019. Despite this, some estimates suggest that the actual number of individuals acting as lobbyists is significantly higher.
Lobbyists are regulated in several ways to maintain transparency and prevent unethical behavior. The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 are both critical in setting the boundaries for lobbying activities. They require detailed disclosure of lobbying spending, define who can lobby, and impose restrictions on gifts and the 'revolving door' of employment between Congress and lobbying firms.
It is important to note that while registered lobbyists are accounted for, some individuals may engage in lobbying activities without being registered. These include consultants and strategic advisors who may not spend the threshold of time to require registration, as mentioned in the Lobbying Disclosure Act, which can account for the discrepancy in the numbers reported by American University professor James Thurber.