The Webinar Quiz: Trivia Questions!

1. I do not need to follow the federal gift rules when interacting with officials and their staffs because I am not one of AFP's lobbyists.

True

False

The statement is false because the fact that the person is not one of AFP's lobbyists does not exempt them from following federal gift rules when interacting with officials and their staffs. These rules are applicable to anyone who interacts with officials and their staffs, regardless of their affiliation or role. It is important to comply with these rules to maintain transparency and avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

Explanation

The statement is false because the fact that the person is not one of AFP's lobbyists does not exempt them from following federal gift rules when interacting with officials and their staffs. These rules are applicable to anyone who interacts with officials and their staffs, regardless of their affiliation or role. It is important to comply with these rules to maintain transparency and avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

2. Field Director Maria is visiting Washington, D.C. on AFP business and decides to visit Capitol Hill. While there, she meets with the Chief of Staff for her state's Senator. Can she bring in some pizzas she picked up with her P-Card to introduce herself to the office?

Yes, that’s food so it’s not a gift.

No, pizza is a meal and as an employee of a lobbyist, Maria can not provide meals.

No, there’s no good pizza in Washington, D.C. so it’s a waste of time.

Yes, pizza is food of a nominal value so she can bring it in.

As an employee of a lobbyist, Maria is subject to certain restrictions and regulations regarding providing meals or gifts. Pizza is considered a meal, and therefore, Maria cannot bring it in as a way to introduce herself to the office.

Explanation

As an employee of a lobbyist, Maria is subject to certain restrictions and regulations regarding providing meals or gifts. Pizza is considered a meal, and therefore, Maria cannot bring it in as a way to introduce herself to the office.

3. I can work on lobbying activities for the AFP Foundation.

True

False

The statement is false because the AFP Foundation is a charitable organization that focuses on providing financial education and empowerment to individuals and communities. Lobbying activities involve advocating for specific policies or legislation, which is not aligned with the mission of a charitable foundation. Therefore, working on lobbying activities for the AFP Foundation would not be appropriate.

Explanation

The statement is false because the AFP Foundation is a charitable organization that focuses on providing financial education and empowerment to individuals and communities. Lobbying activities involve advocating for specific policies or legislation, which is not aligned with the mission of a charitable foundation. Therefore, working on lobbying activities for the AFP Foundation would not be appropriate.

4. You are a registered lobbyist working in a state that requires reporting for grassroots lobbying. On Thursday, you spent the morning discussing Medicaid expansion with your state senator, then spent the afternoon at an event encouraging the public to contact their state Senator to defeat Medicaid expansion. The next day, you sit down to work on your timesheet and expenses. How should you code your expenses that day?

Code all time and expenses for lobbying. It’s all the same.

Don’t use any special codes. We’re libertarians and we do what we want!

Grassroots lobbying isn’t lobbying so I don’t have to code it as anything.

The correct answer is to code the morning time and expenses as 11 and the afternoon time and expenses as 12 so they can be easily found at reporting time. This is because the question states that the state requires reporting for grassroots lobbying, and the afternoon activity of encouraging the public to contact their state Senator to defeat Medicaid expansion falls under grassroots lobbying. By using specific codes for the morning and afternoon activities, it will be easier to track and report the expenses related to grassroots lobbying.

Explanation

The correct answer is to code the morning time and expenses as 11 and the afternoon time and expenses as 12 so they can be easily found at reporting time. This is because the question states that the state requires reporting for grassroots lobbying, and the afternoon activity of encouraging the public to contact their state Senator to defeat Medicaid expansion falls under grassroots lobbying. By using specific codes for the morning and afternoon activities, it will be easier to track and report the expenses related to grassroots lobbying.

5. My best friend works for the local Congressman and she is getting married. We have been friends forever and give each other gifts all the time. I want to buy her a $500 china set from her gift registry. Even though we are like family, my friend has to get written permission from the Ethics Committee before I can give her this wedding gift.

True

False

In this scenario, the correct answer is true. The reason is that the friend works for a local Congressman, and as a public official, there are certain ethical guidelines and regulations that need to be followed. These guidelines often include restrictions on receiving gifts, especially ones of high value, to prevent any potential conflicts of interest or unethical behavior. Therefore, the friend needs to get written permission from the Ethics Committee before accepting the $500 china set as a wedding gift.

Explanation

In this scenario, the correct answer is true. The reason is that the friend works for a local Congressman, and as a public official, there are certain ethical guidelines and regulations that need to be followed. These guidelines often include restrictions on receiving gifts, especially ones of high value, to prevent any potential conflicts of interest or unethical behavior. Therefore, the friend needs to get written permission from the Ethics Committee before accepting the $500 china set as a wedding gift.

6. Robert is a Field Director who has already taken a couple of meetings for AFP with his state representative. Robert is working at his state's lobby day at the Capitol and decides to join our activists in visiting some offices. While there, Robert speaks directly to a legislative aide and tells him we can't afford higher gas taxes. Is this lobbying and does Robert have to register?

No and Yes. It’s not lobbying but I like filling out extra paperwork.

Yes and No. It is direct communication but Robert’s meetings are protected speech.

Yes and Yes. He is communicating directly on a policy issue and that always means he has to be registered.

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Explanation

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7. Albert is a Field Director whose best friend from high school just got elected to Congress. AFP is fighting to end a tax break for digital watch manufacturers and Albert's friend is on the committee that is about to vote on the bill. Albert wants to call his friend on his personal cell phone and tell him to vote against the tax break. Should he?

Yes, this is perfectly fine. Albert is always free to talk to his friends about whatever he wants.

Maybe. Albert’s entrepreneurship is commendable but he should coordinate with his State Director and with Federal Affairs.

No, Albert is not a registered lobbyist so he cannot talk to elected officials about policy matters.

Yes, no one can tell Albert what he can’t and can’t talk about with his friends.

The correct answer suggests that while Albert is free to talk to his friends about whatever he wants, he should still coordinate with his State Director and Federal Affairs. This indicates that Albert should ensure that his actions align with the organization's goals and strategies, rather than acting independently. It emphasizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration within the organization.

Explanation

The correct answer suggests that while Albert is free to talk to his friends about whatever he wants, he should still coordinate with his State Director and Federal Affairs. This indicates that Albert should ensure that his actions align with the organization's goals and strategies, rather than acting independently. It emphasizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration within the organization.

8. Joe is an AFP Field Director who doesn't regularly work on policy matters. He decides to go into his Congressman's district office to discuss repealing Obamacare with the staff. Is Joe lobbying and does he have to register?

No and No. Joe is only a field director.

Yes and Yes. Joe is lobbying and needs to register as a lobbyist.

No and No. Joe is just exercising his First Amendment rights.

Yes and No. Joe is lobbying, but hasn’t passed the threshold requiring registration.

Joe is engaging in lobbying activities by going into his Congressman's district office to discuss repealing Obamacare with the staff. However, he does not have to register as a lobbyist because he hasn't reached the threshold that requires registration. This means that Joe is engaging in lobbying but is not meeting the specific criteria that would trigger the need for registration.

Explanation

Joe is engaging in lobbying activities by going into his Congressman's district office to discuss repealing Obamacare with the staff. However, he does not have to register as a lobbyist because he hasn't reached the threshold that requires registration. This means that Joe is engaging in lobbying but is not meeting the specific criteria that would trigger the need for registration.