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ENDNOTES 1. Minnesota's Ethics in Government Act defines a lobbyist "principal" as any "individual or association" that spends more than $500 in any calendar year to engage a lobbyist, compensate a lobbyist, or authorize the expenditure of money by a lobbyist; or any individual or association that spends at least $50,000 in any calendar year on efforts to influence legislative action, administrative action, or the official action of metropolitan governmental units. Minn. Stat. § 10A.01, subd. 28 (1998). The Metropolitan Council does not qualify as a lobbyist principal under state law because the Council is neither an "individual" nor an "association" as those terms are defined in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 10A. The Act specifically defmes the Metropolitan Council as a "political subdivision" rather than an individual or an association. Minn. Stat. § 10A.01, subd. 27 (1998). 2. "A lobbyist or principal may not give a gift or request another to give a gift to an official. An official may not accept a gift from a lobbyist or principal." Minn. Stat. § 10A.071, subd. 2 (1998). The term "official" means "a public official * * * or a local official of a metropolitan governmental unit." Minn. Stat. § 10A.071, subd. 1(c) (1998). The Chair and members of the Metropolitan Council are defined as "public officials" for the purposes of the Ethics in Government Act. Minn. Stat. § 10A.01, subd. 18(o) (1998). See Minn. Stat. § 473.123, subd. 1 (1998) (the Council "shall be under the supervision and control of 17 members "); Minn. Stat. § 473.123, subd. 4(a) (1998) (the Chair is "the 17th voting member" of the Council's seventeen - member governing body). 3 Minn. Stat. § 10A.071, subd. 1(b) (1998). The administrative rules of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board state: In addition to those categories specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 10A.071, subdivision 1, the following are included within the definition of gift: A. meals and entertainment; B. loans of personal property for less than payment of fair market value; C. giving preferential treatment for purchases; D. honoraria; and E. payment of loans or other obligations. Minn. R. pt. 4512.0100, subp. 3 (1997). 4 ' . The Ethics in Government Act generally defmes a "lobbyist" as an individual: (1) engaged for pay or other consideration, or authorized to spend money by another individual, association, political subdivision, or public higher education system, who spends more than five hours in any month or more than $250, not including the individual's own travel expenses and membership dues, in any year, for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action, or the official action of a metropolitan governmental unit, by communicating or urging others to communicate with public or local officials; or (2) who spends more than $250, not including the individual's own traveling expenses and membership dues, in any year for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action, or the official action of a metropolitan governmental unit, by communicating or urging others to communicate with public or local officials. 7