Lobby Definition - Investopedia

A lobby is a group of people who band together and try to influence people in public office and politicians. · The term may also allude to the action of exerting ... Business MarketingEssentials WhatIsaLobby? Thetermlobby referstoa groupofpeoplewhobandtogetherandtrytoinfluencepeopleinpublicofficeandpoliticians.Alobbyistypicallyformedtoinfluencegovernmentofficialstoactinawaythatisbeneficialtothelobby'soranindustry'sbestinterests, eitherthroughfavorablelegislationorbyblockingunfavorablemeasures.Thetermisalsousedasaverbtodescribetheinfluencethatagroupofindividualsexertsoverotherpeople. KeyTakeaways Alobby isa groupofpeoplewhobandtogetherandtrytoinfluencepeopleinpublicofficeandpoliticians.Thetermmayalsoalludetotheactionofexertinginfluenceonpublicofficials.Lobbiesareformedtoinfluenceofficialstoactinawaythatisbeneficialtothelobby'sbestinterests, eitherthroughfavorablelegislationorbyblockingunfavorablemeasures.Lobbyistsarecommonlyheldinanegativelightbecausetheyareseeminglyabletocircumventthedemocraticprocess. HowLobbiesWork ThetermlobbycameintouseintheAmericanpoliticallandscapeinthe1800sinU.S.statehousesinthenortheast.TheveryfirstlobbyintheUnitedStatesCongresswastheroomoutsidethechamber,whichwasoneoftheeasiestplacestorunintoHouseRepresentatives.Thiswasgenerallywherepeoplewereabletomeetwithpoliticians,havetheirsay,andtrytopersuadethemtovoteacertainway. Althoughnooneholdsmeetingsinthisphysicallobbyanymore,theterm'smeaninghasshifted.Asmentionedabove,alobbyisagroupofindividualsorcompaniesthatusetheirinfluenceoverpublicofficials.Italsomeanstheactionoftryingtoexertinfluenceoverotherindividuals.Lobbyistsareparticularlyactiveandwell-fundedbycertainindustries,notablypharmaceuticals,oilandgas,insurance,aerospaceanddefense, utilities,banks,andrealestate. Lobbiesandlobbyistsarepaidsubstantialamountsofmoneybytheirclientstoswaythedecisionsoflawmakerstopassadvantageouslegislationfortheindustriestheyserve.Becauseoftheinfluencetheyexertandtheamountofpowertheyhold,theyareoftenseeninanegativelight.That'sbecauselobbiescanoftencircumventthedemocraticprocessandcommonlyconductwhatmostpeoplecallback-officedeals. Putsimply,manycitizenslikentheiractionstobribery,promisingpoliticiansfinancialsupportandbackingduringtheirpoliticalcampaignsinexchangeforvotesonlegislation. Itmaynotseemfairtotheaveragecitizenthataninterestgroupcanseeminglybuyavote,butthatishowit worksinpolitics.Despiteanti-lobbyingrhetoricspewedbymanycandidatesonthecampaigntrail,thecandidate,ifelectedintooffice,doeslittleornothingtoputanendtospecialinterestmoney.Infact,thesepoliticiansoftenexposethemselvesashypocriteswhentheyacceptdonationsfromlobbies. SpecialConsiderations LobbyistscrawlingaroundWashingtonD.C.andstatecapitalsmayserveapositiveroleinilluminatingorclarifyingissuesgermanetoindustriesorprofessions,buttheyaregenerallyviewedpejorativelyasspecialinterestgroups.Butpractical-mindedpeopleshouldnotethatcompetinginterestsinademocraticprocessisnatural.Wherelinesmaybedrawn,however,areincasesthatareconsideredharmfultosocietybyamajorityofAmericans. Althoughtheyaregenerallylookeddownupon,somelobbiescanhaveapositiveimpactonsociety,suchasthosetiedtoenvironmentalgroups,education,andhumanrights. Forinstance,thereisadebateaboutwhether gunsandtobaccofitthiscategory.Thesamegoesforprocessedfoods,sugarydrinks,andexpensivedrugs.Somedonotlikethelobbiesthatpushtheiragendas.Also,ifalobbysimplyoutspendsacompetinginteresttogetwhatitwants,thequestionoffairnessarises. Therearelobbies,ontheotherhand,thatareseenaspositive—evenasessential—wherethepublicgoodisconcerned. Theselobbiesaretiedtoenvironmentalgroups,education, andhumanrights,tonameafew.Theselobbieswon'tbeaswell-fundedastheindustriesandinterestgroupsthatopposethem,butatleasttheyhaveavoice. ArticleSources Investopediarequireswriterstouseprimarysourcestosupporttheirwork.Theseincludewhitepapers,governmentdata,originalreporting,andinterviewswithindustryexperts.Wealsoreferenceoriginalresearchfromotherreputablepublisherswhereappropriate.Youcanlearnmoreaboutthestandardswefollowinproducingaccurate,unbiasedcontentinour editorialpolicy. UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentatives."LobbyingintheLobby."AccessedNov.13,2020. 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