Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Important role of lobbyists
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Lobbyists and the Legislative Process
Word Count: 1,638
Table of Contents
Part A: The Plan of Investigation 3
Part B: Summary of Evidence 3
Part C: Evaluation of Sources 5
Part D: Analysis 6
Part E: Conclusion 8
Part F: Sources 9
Part A. Plan of Investigation
Research Question: To what degree are lobbyists’ successful at influencing the legislative process in Congress?
This investigation analyzes the influence of lobbyists on the legislative process in Congress. It is shown that influence is difficult to measure but with a variety of variables that come into play, it can be narrowed down. To examine how much influence lobbyists have over the legislative progress, this study focuses local political action studies and studies of the success of lobbyists in certain things they do.
The two sources that will be evaluated on their origins, purposes, values, and limitations are Citizen Lobbyists: Local Efforts to Influence Public Policy by Brain E. Adams and The Persuaders: When Lobbyists Matter by Steven John.
Part B. Summary of Evidence
Lobbying is used to influence public policy so it’s expected that people will want to measure the influence of the lobbyists on the legislative process. However, they have avoided it because of the fact that it’s troubling to measure the influence concept quantitatively (Mahoney 35; John 27). Some of the reasons for are that there are too many variables, assumptions about the effect of lobbying are flawed because studies have been unable to establish convincing counterfactuals such as what effect an organization would have on policy if lobbyists' activities were not performed, and that self-reports on inf...
... middle of paper ...
...eir goals. Overall it is difficult to truly measure quantitatively the influence of a lobbyist, although evidence from all sources prove that influence can go either way.
Works Cited
Adams, Brian E. Citizen Lobbyists: Local Efforts to Influence Public Policy. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 2007. Print.
John, Steve. The Persuaders: When Lobbyists Matter. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. Print.
"Lobbyist & Lobbying. What Is a Lobbyist. What Does a Lobbyist Do?" Meyers & Associates. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
Mahoney, Christine. "Lobbying Success in the United States and the European Union." Journal of Public Policy 27.01 (2007): 35-56. Print.
Pinkham, Doug. "Do Lobbyists Have Influence?" Public Affairs Council. 25 Aug. 2010. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
Rogers, Jonathan. "An Experimental Investigation of Lobbying Strategies." (2012). Print.
Interest groups, lobbyists, large corporations, and PACs try to influence the congressional committees' bills so they can have a say in the legislative process. When an interest group hears about a bill that is being debated on in a committee, they try to influence a members vote and they try to get a part of the bill changed. For example, a lobbyist came to me on a bill I proposed on making health care plans have no minimum requirement on benefits the company gives to its patients. He told me about how he did not get the right treatments and tests done on diseases he has and now is suffering badly from them. It was because the health plan did not have to give him anything extra. He changed my mind on the bill, and I changed the bill to setting a minimum standard on benefits given to patients.
Presidential Influence in Congress." American Journal of Political Science 29.2 (1985): 183-96. JSTOR. Web. 19 May 2014.
Twyman, D., & Whitney, C. (2009, September 1). Interest Groups in American Politics. Retrieved from The American Citizen: http://www.twyman- whitney.com/americancitizen/links/lobbies.htm
Political systems within the United States work together to establish laws and create boundaries for their people. Government officials work with the Senate in Congress to help establish regulations not only for the American people but also for corporations in order to not become monopolies in today’s market. This all corresponds to a legislative process in order for Congress to have a clear idea of passing effective laws that help reinforce results within our society. Members of Congress and political affiliations are impacted by representatives from large business corporations through the process of bribing these government officials into supporting the ideas and desires of these corporations. In order for this to occur, these companies engage in lobbying. Lobbying is the attempt to influence government officials in decision making processes or swaying the government by employing tactics through various agreements in the form of verbal or written statements to public officials in Congress. This usually occurs through donations of large amounts of money to members of Congress as a way of bribing them to support the representatives of these corporations. Therefore, corporations have widely influenced Congress, making it difficult to pass laws and bills that are not in favor of these corporations. Thus, lobbying is influenced by money and promotes the interests of these specific corporations.
National Conference of State Legislatures. Wendy Underhill , 26 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
During the 2004 election for the North Carolina Fifth District, a politician had earned the support of an influential lobbyist. Jay Helvey appealed to the conservative heart, concerned soul, and the empty wallet of North Carolinians. Due to the entrancing values held by this man, he was able to sway the support of a powerful campaign official. His influence over my life during the following months was profound to the point of causing me to speak out. However, contrary my political beliefs may be to some in this country, these ideas have brought me a small amount of fame.
While the outcomes of these two bills have not yet been determined, I believe lobbying plays a big role in what the outcomes will be. In the case of the Federal Water Quality Protection Act I think it’s helping because I would think more people are for it rather than against it in the first place, but if there weren’t quite enough people in the beginning who were for it, it would add that extra support. I believe lobbying is helping more in the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 because it is a more controversial topic. Some people are indifferent to the idea of all foods being labeled accurately, specifically regarding GMOs. By lobbying, companies have a better chance of getting the congressmen to vote in support or against the
South University Online. (2013). POL2076: American Government: Week 4: People and Politics—Interest Groups. Retrieved from http://myeclassonline.com
Schmidt, Shelley, and Bardes. American Politics and Government Today. Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1999, pgs. 325-327.
Citizens of the United States are traditionally given unlimited freedom of speech, press, and assembly. These American privileges allow interest groups to express their perspectives by using the media and other sources that are accessible to the public. In definition, an interest group is a group of individuals who organize to influence the government’s programs and policies. The main goal of these groups is to have the government both listen and respond to their interests (Shin 243). Historically interest groups have and continue to play a crucial role in American politics; especially since it is an effective form for citizens to interfere with government decision making. Two current interest groups in the United States are the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda and the National Council of La Raza. These particular interest groups demonstrate how interest groups directly and indirectly influence public opinion and the political process.
These pluralistic interest groups are free to operate and lobby in the political arena, fighting against the majority and other competing factions for voice in Congress. With the influence of multiple factions operating throughout the political system, a balance of power is created (Kernell 2000, 429). This is much like the international theory of sovereign states balancing each other’s power to create a political system that focuses on stability, yet is always in a constant flux of power. With this in mind, special interest groups are constantly contending for power by raising money, campaigning, and lobbying in Congress. When a special interest group is threatened by a competing policy, the group will organize efforts to balance, or transcend the power of the competing group.
For example, House Republicans have recently tried to prevent multiple forms of medical treatments and procedures (like abortions) from retaining coverage under President Obama's Affordable Care Act10. Other types of legislation can increase taxes on non-profits, limit certain types of research (i.e., on stem cells), or otherwise negatively impact the ability of health activist organizations to function in their fullest capacity. Activist groups must therefore lobby the federal government in order to have representatives for their causes and goals in Congress. Convincing policy-makers of the importance of funding an organization can lead to the easier passage of favorable legislation or prevent potentially harmful legislation from gaining traction. Lobbying thus plays an essential role in health activism and merits a deeper examination of its
For years now the lobbyists have held far too much power over our lawmaking process. A process meant to benefit the hardworking American people not the lazy clientele of the lobbyists groups simply sitting around getting rich. Lawmakers bending to the will of big businesses both left and right, abandoning conscious decisions to better this beautiful country we live in. new regulations and blocks will make great strides in the right direction to help to put a stop to an ever growing, ever sickening problem in American politics today.
...now that there is an organization for lobbying purposes. What scares me is that most groups that desire the change in the country have representatives and lobbyists. In other word, if you need thing changed and maintained your way, make a special interest group. Similarly, the feminist movement would have a special interest group that would lobby and influence the state and federal senate to their point of view. The scary part is whether it is right. I know that such propaganda and influence is necessary in the U.S. government. I am still though scared to think that this is the only way to change our society. Whether lobbyists are the only output of our intentions on a national wide scale. I know that it is used and effective, but I am still scared. If this is the only way to move us, people, to the better or worst, then my fears have very good foundations.
...k for big business, a private individual, or even the public. The goals and strategies are the same for all lobbyist. Foremost, they must be very good at the art of persuasion, the mainstay of their job. They figure out how to sway politicians to vote on legislation in a way that favors the interest they represent. In our American democracy, people that are not elected representatives shape the laws of our country. If we continue down this path, our democracy will also one day be extinct. We need to get back to the roots of democracy and remember what the true meaning is. Power to the People!