Maybe at some point in your life you've recommended someone for a job by telling your boss that they would be a good employee. Or maybe you decided to speak up for a friend when you knew he or she was innocent. In either case, you were lobbying. Lobbying is trying to convince someone in authority to act on behalf of someone else.
Let's say that rather than trying to get your friend a job, you are trying to get a wider road built between the nearest highway and your business. If the road is widened to include more lanes, your employees would spend less time in traffic--in short, they would have a quicker commute. You could go to your city council or state house and meet with the politicians involved, but you can only really do that for a day or two at a time. Wouldn't it be better to have someone there all the time, reminding lawmakers of your concerns? That's what a lobbyist does. Lobbyists provide constant pressure, presenting the cases of their clients to politicians each time there is an opportunity to do so. While you, the business owner, could only appear every so often, a lobbyist can make sure that the politician never forgets your cause.
Lobbying is one of the main ways that interest groups shape legislation and present their members' views to decision-makers. In the United States, lobbyists are typically well-connected professional advocates, often lawyers, who argue for specific legislation at all levels of government. Many people, including those in the media, hold a very negative view of lobbying, but it is a part of government that is frequently misunderstood. Much lobbying is done through a wide variety of coalitions representing diverse groups, and lobbying happens at every level of government, including federal, state, county, municipal, and even local governments.
For a company owner who needs something from the government, lobbyists can be invaluable. However, it's not just companies that hire lobbyists. Special interest groups are able to hire lobbyists using dues and donations. For interest groups, lobbyists are the intermediaries between the group and lawmakers. Essentially they explain to legislators what their groups want, and then lobbyists, in turn, explain to their clients what obstacles the legislators face in getting them what they want. Many lobbyists work in lobbying firms or law firms, some of which retain clients outside of lobbying. Others work for advocacy groups, trade associations, companies, and state and local governments. Lobbyists can also be one type of government official, such as a governor of a state, who presses officials in Washington for specific legislation.
Question
Why would interest groups hire lobbyists?
