contacts with officials by news organizations where the purpose is to gather and disseminate news and information to the public;“ grassroots by which appeals are made to the general public to lobbying,” contact Members of Congress or the executive branch on certain issues; in a speech, article, publication, or other communications “made material” distributed directly to the public or to the mass media; testimony before any committee or subcommittee of the Congress; information provided in writing in response to a request by an official for “specific information;” information provided in response to a notice in the Federal Register or similar communications from the public and directed to the publication “soliciting agency official. ... to receive such communications”; communications made in participation in various government or other legal proceedings, contacts made with officials of agencies in judicial e.g., proceedings, or other criminal or law enforcement proceedings (this exemption applies only to contacts about particular cases or parties, not to lobbying on overall policy); filings or proceedings that the government must by statute or regulation maintain on a confidential basis; participation in administrative agency adjudications, such as those conducted under the Administrative Procedure Act; comments filed in public proceedings or on the record in a public “made proceeding;” petitions for agency action made in writing required to be a matter of “and public record pursuant to established agency procedures;” contacts made in the course of participation in advisory committees whose proceedings are conducted under the Federal Advisory Committee Act; circumstances where the application of the law would undermine some other legal objective or impose a hardship on another type of organization. For example, churches or conventions and associations of churches are exempt, as are religious orders. Disclosure is not mandated for individuals whose communications are protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, the Inspector General Act of 1978 or some other provision of law designed to protect such communication for similar purposes; and communications made by individuals with covered officials on matters involving their own or other personal and “benefits, employment, matters,” their communications may encompass the formulation or adoption of “private if conducted with their own elected representatives. legislation” Snapshot Submitting comments…exempted However, you cannot turn around and go talk to a member Grassroots lobbying…exempted Testimony…exempted on the record and situations in which you are …proceedings responding in writing are generally exempt Quarterly Disclosure Reports and Semiannual Contribution Reports
contacts with officials by news organizations where the purpose is to gather and disseminate news and information to the public;“ grassroots lobbying,” by which appeals are made to the general public to contact Members of Congress or the executive branch on certain issues; communications “made in a speech, article, publication, or other material” distributed directly to the public or to the mass media; testimony before any committee or subcommittee of the Congress; information provided in writing in response to a request by an official for “specific information;” information provided in response to a notice in the Federal Register or similar publication “soliciting communications from the public and directed to the agency official. ... to receive such communications”; communications made in participation in various government or other legal proceedings, e.g., contacts made with officials of agencies in judicial proceedings, or other criminal or law enforcement proceedings (this exemption applies only to contacts about particular cases or parties, not to lobbying on overall policy); filings or proceedings that the government must by statute or regulation maintain on a confidential basis; participation in administrative agency adjudications, such as those conducted under the Administrative Procedure Act; comments filed in public proceedings or “made on the record in a public proceeding;” petitions for agency action made in writing “and required to be a matter of public record pursuant to established agency procedures;” contacts made in the course of participation in advisory committees whose proceedings are conducted under the Federal Advisory Committee Act; circumstances where the application of the law would undermine some other legal objective or impose a hardship on another type of organization. For example, churches or conventions and associations of churches are exempt, as are religious orders. Disclosure is not mandated for individuals whose communications are protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, the Inspector General Act of 1978 or some other provision of law designed to protect such communication for similar purposes; and communications made by individuals with covered officials on matters involving their own “benefits, employment, or other personal matters,” and their communications may encompass the formulation or adoption of “private legislation” if conducted with their own elected representatives. Snapshot Submitting comments…exempted However, you cannot turn around and go talk to a member Grassroots lobbying…exempted Testimony…exempted …proceedings on the record and situations in which you are responding in writing are generally exempt Quarterly Disclosure Reports and Semiannual Contribution Reports