Final answer:
U.S regulations on lobbying include (A) frequent reporting, revolving door bans, and prohibitions on certain activities like gift-giving to lawmakers. The Lobbying Disclosure Act and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act enforce these, assisted by executive orders aimed at preventing conflicts of interest and maintaining transparency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S government uses several measures to regulate lobbying and maintain ethical standards. To prevent unethical behavior, the following regulations are enforced:
- Lobbyists must frequently report their actions and expenses, with detailed disclosure of lobbying activity, including the targets of lobbying and the issues lobbied about, as mandated by the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
- Revolving door bans prevent former government employees from engaging in lobbying activities immediately after leaving office. For example, House members must wait one year, and Senators and cabinet secretaries must wait two years before lobbying their former institutions.
- Prohibition of certain activities such as providing gifts to lawmakers, the certification requirement by lobbyists that they have not violated gift laws, and the imposition of increased penalties for unlawful gift-giving, are all measures aimed at reducing influence peddling.
Additionally, under President Biden's Executive Order 13989, executive branch appointees must sign an ethics pledge and are barred from accepting gifts from lobbyists. Transparency and adherence to these rules are critical in regulating lobbying practices, preventing conflicts of interest, and maintaining the integrity of governmental processes.