Table of Contents Categories
  • Lobbying guidelines by state
    •   Encyclosphere.org ENCYCLOREADER
      supported by EncyclosphereKSF

    South Carolina lobbying guidelines

    From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 2 min
    Lobbyist registration guidelines
    BP-Initials-UPDATED.png
    Related pages
    Lobbying
    Taxpayer-funded lobbying
    Guidelines by state

    Lobbying is broadly defined as the attempt to persuade another person to accept one's position. This includes efforts to influence lawmakers by other legislators, constituents, or organized groups. Each state has different requirements for lobbyist registration. The person doing the lobbying is typically referred to as the lobbyist and the person or entity providing compensation the principal. Each state has a different entity responsible for maintaining its lobbying records, such as registrations and expenditures.

    As of April 2021, the State Ethics Commission maintained South Carolina's lobbying records.

    Who must register?[edit]

    According to Sections 2-17-20(A) and 2-17-10(13) of South Carolina state law, individuals who meet the following criteria must register as a lobbyist:[1]

    “ 2-17-20(A): Any person who acts as a lobbyist must, within fifteen days of being employed, appointed, or retained as a lobbyist, register with the State Ethics Commission[2] ”
    “ 2-17-10(13): 'Lobbyist' means any person who is employed, appointed, or retained, with or without compensation, by another person to influence by direct communication with public officials or public employees:
    1. the action or vote of any member of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, or any other statewide constitutional officer concerning any legislation;
    2. the vote of any public official on any state agency, board, or commission concerning any covered agency actions; or
    3. the action of the Governor or any member of his executive staff concerning any covered gubernatorial actions.


    "Lobbyist" also means any person who is employed, appointed, or retained, with or without compensation, by a state agency, college, university, or other institution of higher learning to influence by direct communication with public officials or public employees:

    1. the action or vote of any member of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, or any other statewide constitutional officer concerning any legislation;
    2. the vote of any public official of any state agency, board, or commission concerning any covered agency actions; or
    3. the action of the Governor or any member of his executive staff concerning any covered gubernatorial actions.[2]
    		 ”


    Click here to visit the state's searchable database of registrations and filings.

    State definition of lobbying[edit]

    Section 2-17-10(12) of South Carolina state law defines lobbying as:[1]

    “ Promoting or opposing through direct communication with public officials or public employees:
    1. the introduction or enactment of legislation before the General Assembly or the committees or members of the General Assembly;
    2. covered gubernatorial actions;
    3. covered agency actions; or
    4. consideration of the election or appointment of an individual to a public office elected or appointed by the General Assembly.[2]
    		 ”

    See also[edit]

    External links[edit]

    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 South Carolina Legislature, "South Carolina Code of Laws," accessed April 9, 2021
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    v • e
    Lobbyist registration guidelines
    Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Original source: https://ballotpedia.org/South_Carolina_lobbying_guidelines
    Encyclosphere.org EncycloReader is supported by the EncyclosphereKSF