When is an interest group actually lobbying? It depends on whom you ask.

This post by the Sunlight Foundation explains that different organizations have very different ways of defining their activities as lobbying. SF’s Bill Allison writes that interest groups can choose from one of three definitions when filing their disclosure forms:

Under one of the definitions, attempts to influence state elections and grass roots lobbying count as reportable federal lobbying expenses; under another, lobbying is defined as contacting federal officials in the executive branch, members of Congress and their staffers, and "efforts in support of such contacts, including preparation and planning activities, research and other background work that is intended, at the time it is performed, for use in contacts, and coordination with the lobbying activities of others."

Maybe it's too much to hope for, but it might be nice if there was one definition that was clearly articulated by federal law — not chosen by interest groups.