About Lobbyists
Lobbyists are men and women who speak to legislators and other government officials on behalf of "special interest groups" or those who have a strong interest in a certain piece of legislation. Lobbying is considered a controversial practice, and it is generally regulated by the government to different degrees of effectiveness.
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Function
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The role of lobbyists is to speak with legislators or others in important governmental decision-making power as a representative for a certain industry or cause. They exist to bring important issues affecting their industry or cause to the attention of the legislators, and they also exist to persuade them to support or oppose key legislation affecting that issue. Ideally in a democracy, everyone has the opportunity to make their voices heard to their legislators. Lobbyists should simply serve this role for certain, more powerful segments of the population.
Types
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Many lobbyists are employed full-time, and others do it as a partial function of their full job. Lobbyists may work for industries, such as the oil, car manufacturing and banking industries, or for advocacy groups and those promoting non-profit causes, such as those advocating for civil rights, or stronger environmental laws. Those who lobby are also not necessarily employed, but may be ordinary citizens who volunteer their time to talk with a legislator about an issue that is important to them. Usually they win a meeting with the legislator by coming in as a representative with an important industry or advocacy group.
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Effects
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Lobbyists can have a key effect on how legislators view certain issues, and they may present the first opportunity that a legislator has to hear an opposing view on the issue. Sometimes lobbyists successfully persuade a legislator; sometimes they have no effect on a legislator at all, if he has already made up his mind on the issue in question. There has, however, been much criticism of lobbying practices and many have argued that lobbying has a negative effect on democracy by elevating certain money-backed voices above others. As a result, there are regulations about lobbying in place, outlawing the use of cash or gifts to win legislative support, requiring lobbyists to register with the government, and requiring paid lobbyists to file reports twice a year. Lobbying is very difficult to regulate, though, as legislators responsible for enforcing the rules can greatly benefit from allowing them to be broken.
Significance
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Lobbyists have emerged as a reviled political scapegoat. Politicians regularly denounce powerful lobbyists in their campaigning, and yet almost always still meet with them once the election is won. Since the public humiliation of several politicians for engaging with disgraced and convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was illegally bribing legislators and other powerful political figures, the lobbyist has become a political villain in the public imagination. He is looked upon with great skepticism or even scorn.
Misconceptions
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Though lobbyists do often have a negative impact on democracy, that is not the full story. Lobbyists also work for many important causes and have had prominent roles in securing landmark legislation like the Violence Against Women Act. Lobbyists are not all corrupt and do not do all of their influencing with bribes and fancy dinners; sometimes they simply use statistics, logic or moving stories. Further, lobbying can sometimes be private citizens' only way to have a meeting with their elected officials and have an influence on issues that have personally affected their lives.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Storm Crypt, via Flickr
