                          TITLE 2--THE CONGRESS
 
              CHAPTER 26--DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
 
Sec. 1607. Rules of construction


(a) Constitutional rights

    Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or interfere 
with--
        (1) the right to petition the Government for the redress of 
    grievances;
        (2) the right to express a personal opinion; or
        (3) the right of association,

protected by the first amendment to the Constitution.

(b) Prohibition of activities

    Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit, or to 
authorize any court to prohibit, lobbying activities or lobbying 
contacts by any person or entity, regardless of whether such person or 
entity is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

(c) Audit and investigations

    Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to grant general audit or 
investigative authority to the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of 
the House of Representatives.

(Pub. L. 104-65, Sec. 8, Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 699.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original ``this Act'' 
meaning Pub. L. 104-65, Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 691, known as the 
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. For complete classification of this Act 
to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of this 
title and Tables.
