LOBBYING

Lobbying is an attempt to influence the course of government action through persuasion or gifts to legislators. The phrase derives from the advocates' practice of waiting in the lobby of government buildings, such as the U.S. House of Representatives, to talk to lawmakers as they come and go. Lobbying, as an activity, may be as old as democracy, but the phrase itself seems to have originated in the early- to mid-nineteenth century in Washington, D.C.

From its earliest usage, the term lobbying implied activity that was somewhat illegal or unsavory, including bribery of public officials. Even today when laws strictly limit the types of gifts that lobbyists may give legislators, critics of lobbying decry the large campaign contributions that interest groups are able to give to candidates to influence their future actions. Lobbyists themselves defend their profession. They contend that they perform a vital public service by bringing valuable information about public issues to light.

Lobbying is often performed by major law firms on behalf of clients or by nonprofit groups concerned with a single issue. There have been hundreds of well-organized groups that lobby both in Washington, D.C., and in state capitals. These groups represent almost every conceivable special interest, from business and environmental groups to those concerned with abortion, foreign trade, or tax reform. Some of the better known groups that lobby legislators on issues of interest to their members are the National Rifle Association, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the National Association of Realtors. Lobbying has had a profound influence on legislative actions.