United States v. Harriss

SCOTUSCase
Litigants=United States v. Harriss
ArgueDate=October 19
ArgueYear=1953
DecideDate=June 7
DecideYear=1954
FullName=United States v. Harriss, et al.
USVol=347
USPage=612
Citation=74 S. Ct. 808; 98 L. Ed. 989; 1954 U.S. LEXIS 2657
Prior=Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Subsequent=
Holding=The Court upheld the act's constitutionality, but also by narrowed the scope and application of the act.
SCOTUS=1953-1954
Majority=Warren
JoinMajority=Reed, Frankfurter, Burton, Minton
Dissent=Douglas
JoinDissent=Black
Dissent2=Jackson
NotParticipating=Clark
LawsApplied=Regulation of Lobbying Act

"United States v. Harriss", 347 U.S. 612 (1954), was a U.S. Supreme Court case applied directly to the Regulation of Lobbying Act.

Proceedings and outcome

Lobbyists challenged the Regulation of Lobbying Act for being unconstitutionally vague and unclear. In "Harriss", the Supreme Court responded by upholding the act's constitutionality, but also by narrowing the scope and application of the act. The Court ruled that the act applies only to paid lobbyists who directly communicate with members of Congress on pending or proposed federal legislation. This means that lobbyists who visit with congressional staff members rather than members of Congress themselves are not considered lobbyists. In addition, the act covers only attempts to influence the passage or defeat of legislation in Congress, and excludes other congressional activities. Further, the act applies to and restricts only individuals who spend at least half of their time lobbying. [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/lobbying "Lobbying" from Answers.com] ]

ee also

*List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 347

Notes

External links

* [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=CASE&court=US&vol=347&page=612 Full text opinion from Findlaw.com]