| Lobbying In The United States |
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Lobbying in the United States targets the United States Senate , the United States House Of Representatives , and State Legislature s. Lobbyists may also represent their clients' or organizations' interests in dealings with federal, state, or local Executive Branch agencies or the Court s. Lobby Groups and their members sometimes also write legislation and Whip bills. The ability of individuals, groups, and corporations to lobby the government is protected by the Right To Petition 1 in the First Amendment Of The United States Constitution . Lobbyists use time spent with legislators to explain the goals of the organization which they represent. HISTORY There is a persistent belief that this tradition began between 1869 and 1877, during the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant . Not allowed to smoke in the White House by his Wife , Grant enjoyed his cigars in the lobby of the nearby Willard Hotel . Having been spotted there often, politicians and others wanting political favors began to frequent him during this time of repose, while he was in High Spirits . However, the term originates in the United Kingdom from approaches made to Members of Parliament in the lobbies of the House of Commons. Usage of the word in this sense in the United States occurred well before the Grant Administration; the practice itself is much older. In July 2005, '' described these results as reflecting the "sea change that has occurred in lawmakers' attitudes toward lobbying in recent years." The paper noted that :Congressional historians say that lawmakers rarely became lobbyists as recently as Two Decades Ago . They considered the profession to be tainted and unworthy of once-elected officials such as themselves. And lobbying firms and trade groups were leery of hiring former members of Congress because they were reputed to be lazy as lobbyists, unwilling to ask former colleagues for favors. But starting in the late 1980s , high salaries for lobbyists, an increasing demand for lobbyists, greater Turnover in Congress, and a Change In The Control Of The House all contributed to a change in attitude about the appropriateness of former elected officials becoming lobbyists. Former lawmakers are eagerly hired as lobbyists because of their relationships with their former colleagues as well as other contacts. The Public Citizen report included a Case Study of one particularly successful lobbyist, Bob Livingston , who stepped down as Speaker-elect and resigned his seat in 1999 after a Sex Scandal . In the six years since his resignation, His Lobbying Group grew into the 12th largest non-law lobbying firm, earning nearly $40 million by the end of 2004. During roughly the same time period, Livingston, his wife, and his two Political Action Committee s (PACs) contributed over $500,000 to the PACs or campaign funds of various candidates. PROPOSED REFORM |
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