Over the past several months, the media has reported a number of high profile cases of people (Paul Manafort, Gen. Michael Flynn) and organizations (RT, formerly Russia Today) failing to register as “foreign agents.” Here is what you should know about foreign agents and the American laws that regulate their activities.

Alexander Hamilton argued in Federalist #68 that given “the desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils,” the Constitution should erect “every practicable obstacle” to prevent such “intrigue and corruption.”