Lobbyists

Lobbyists then and Now

The term lobbyist was first used in the mid-17th century. Citizens gathered in a large lobby near the British House of Commons to express their views to members of Parliament. In the early 19th century, the term lobby-agent was used in the United [Page 1061]States, where it was applied to citizens seeking legislative favors in the New York Capitol lobby. By 1832 lobby-agent had been shortened to lobbyist and was widely used on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The term lobbying is claimed to date from the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, who used to drink brandy and smoke cigars while relaxing in the lobby of the Willard Hotel, where he was often approached by those seeking favors.

The process of lobbying allows for competition among diverse interest groups. The All American League of Lobbyists lists the principal elements of lobbying as: researching and analyzing legislation or regulatory proposals; monitoring and reporting on developments; attending congressional or regulatory hearings; working with coalitions interested in the same issues; and educating not only government officials but also employees and corporate officers as to the implications of various changes. Lobbying is part of any democratic society and may take many forms including organizing petitions, running public relations campaigns, writing letters to the editor, or making telephone calls to public officials.

In order to prevent political corruption, lobbying in Western countries is regulated by law. The right “to petition the government for a redress of grievances” is protected in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In the United States, where the Congress dominates the legislative function, professional lobbyists represent interest groups and associations. The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946) requires that lobbyists register and report financial contributions they receive and their expenditure and that groups whom they represent make similar reports. Lobbyists representing foreign interests are required to register with the Department of Justice.

Many lobbyists are former politicians, government officials, or senior public servants. In the United States, the number of Members of Congress who turn to lobbying as a profession after they leave the legislature has increased in recent years. Only three percent of those who left Congress in the 1970s became lobbyists in Washington, but the figure increased to 12 percent in the 1980s, and by the 1990s, it had risen to 22 percent. Analysis shows that at least 128 former members of Congress were working as lobbyists in 2005.

In 1995 a ban was imposed upon former Members and most staff, preventing them from lobbying their former colleagues for one year after they left the Hill. This ban does not, however, prohibit them from devising strategies and then sending others employed by their firms to do the direct lobbying.

While lobbyists in the United States target the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and state legislatures, lobbyists in the European Union (EU) focus primarily on the institutions and organizations of the EU. The European Commission estimated in 1999 that approximately 3,000 special-interest groups of varying types are based in Brussels, with up to 10,000 employees working in the lobbying sector.

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