The Effects of Lobbying

Lobbying is a process by which a political pressure group tries to influence a piece of legislation or a legislator.

A notable attribute of modern politics, lobbying is a process of attempting to influence one government representative or a group, such as a committee. Lobbyists can consist of individuals or specific interest groups and may be members of an individual legislator's constituency or a national organization.

The Facts

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution authorizes the right of a citizen to "petition the government for a redress of grievances," offering a clear example of lobbying and the simplest explanation of the practice. Lobbying occasionally becomes marked by scandal and recast as an ethically suspect initiative; for example, Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff was charged with mail fraud and conspiracy in 2006. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the top lobbying sectors spent close to $30 billion between 1998 and 2011.

Lobbyists

Lobbying involves more than just advocating for a particular cause by writing or submitting petitions to government officials. According to the "Washington Representatives Spring 2008: A Compilation of Washington Representatives of the Major National Associations, Labor Unions, Governments, U.S. And Foreign Companies" by Valerie S. Sheridan, et al., lobbyists often attend congressional meetings, work with specific committees and continue to provide coverage for their own constituencies on whichever interest they focus.

Reform

The first notable reform to lobbying occurred in the 1990s, with the Lobbying and Disclosure Act of 1995. The legislation -- since amended by the Honest Leadership and Government Act of 2007 -- ensures that organized lobbying groups register with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, or risk a $50,000 fine. The act also restricts gifts an elected official can receive from an interest group, prevents former elected representatives from lobbying for one year after leaving the House or Senate, and requires disclosure of funds received from coalitions and associations.

Practice

Lobbyists can include non- and for-profit institutions and multinational corporations. As of 2011, the finance, insurance and real estate industries make up the largest percentage of lobbyists in the United States, closely followed by the health and communications industries, according to OpenSecrets.org.

References

• NPR.org; Lobbyist Abramoff Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges; Ari Shapiro; Jan. 3, 2006
• OpenSecrets.org: Lobbying in the United States by Ranked Sector
• "Washington Representatives Spring 2008: A Compilation of Washington Representatives of the Major National Associations, Labor Unions, Governments, U.S. And Foreign Companies"; Valerie S. Sheridan, et al.; 2008
• FAS.org; CRS Report for Congress; Lobbying Reform: Background and Legislative Proposals, 109th Congress; R. Eric Petersen; March 23, 2006
• ASAECenter.org: The New Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007

Resources

• "Harper's Magazine"; Their Men in Washington; Ken Silverstein; July 2007
• "The Wall Street Journal"; Foreign Spending on Politics Fought; Brody Mullins and Jess Bravin; Jan. 29, 2010
• American League of Lobbyists; What Is Lobbying?; Aug. 27, 2010