American League of Lobbyists - Resources for the Public: Career Fair for Congressional Staffers Lobby Reform Activities

Lobbying Reform Activities

Established in 1979 as a nonprofit organization, The American League of Lobbyists (ALL) is the national professional association dedicated exclusively to lobbying. ALL's mission is to enhance the development of professionalism, competence and high ethical standards for advocates in the public policy arena, and to collectively address challenges affecting the First Amendment right to "petition the government for redress of grievances."

Above all else that we do, ALL is committed to promoting ethical lobbying. We have been at the forefront of both calling for and helping to write laws that require federal lobbyists to register with Congress. We have promoted transparency so that anyone can use the Internet to see who a lobbyists’ clients are, what legislative bills and issues the lobbyist is working on, and how much the lobbyist is being paid.

Our Code of Ethics, to which every member of ALL must subscribe, has been recognized as an important document that shows the commitment of ALL and its members to the professional standards that are required for our role as a vital and respected link in the democratic process.

ALL also sponsors a rigorous Lobbying Certificate Program that assures lobbyists have a complete knowledge of the legislative and regulatory processes.

LDA Recommendations Released April 9th, 2012

The American League of Lobbyists Board of Directors approved a series of recommendations that would make sweeping changes in the law that governs those engaged in lobbying Congress and senior officials in the Executive Branch. The current law has been criticized because it contains exemptions that allow hundreds, if not thousands, of lobbyists to avoid having to register.

Read the recommendations.
View the press release.
View press reports on recommendations.
Side by side comparison of ALL's and ABA's reform recommendations.

Advocating Transparency and Accountability

ALL led the effort in the early 1990's to get rid of an ineffective lobbying disclosure law and to replace it with a law designed to have enforcement teeth and to provide the public with useful information about what lobbyists are doing. In recent years the media and some elected officials have sought to demonize our profession. ALL has spoken out forcefully in the media against these efforts. More importantly, we have reached out to the public to show that every American belongs to some formal or informal group that is represented by a lobbyist.

In 2011, ALL established an Lobbying Disclosure Working Group, headed by former ALL President Paul Miller. The goal of the LDWG is to propose changes to the existing lobbying registration law that will close the loopholes, expand the activities that need to be disclosed, and provide more useful information to the public. The details of ALL's proposal will be posted on this page when they are released to the membership.