Legal Regulation of Lobbyist Activities: Theoretical Issues

The relevance of the study of legal regulation of lobbying is related to the implementation of the task of improving the interaction of the state with civil society institutions and representatives of the private sector. The degree of scientific elaboration of the problems of regulating the institution of lobbyism remains insufficiently studied. Over the past fifteen years, Russia has repeatedly made attempts to study the characteristics of lobbying as a legal institution in order to identify its main characteristics, as well as identify possible approaches to building a model for regulating lobbying in Russia. In addition, various bills on the regulation of lobbying activities were developed, which, ultimately, were not adopted. This paper will consider the main approaches to the definition of “lobbyism”, “subjects of lobbyism”, the main features of lobbying activity, its functions in modern society. In addition, models of regulating the lobbying institution in countries where this institution is fixed at the legislative level will be investigated. Particular attention will be paid to the problems associated with such activities from a theoretical and legal point of view. In addition, the paper analyzes the main bills that offer a particular model of lobbying regulation in Russia, and also assesses the prospects for introducing legal regulation of lobbyism in Russia. The author proposes a model for regulating lobbying activities with an assessment of its application, taking into account the need to solve the problems identified in this study.