direct lobbying

Examples of direct lobbying in the following topics:

• Direct Lobbying

  • A common use of direct lobbying is to persuade the general public about a ballot proposal.
  • Communications regarding a ballot measure are also considered direct lobbying.
  • Direct lobbying is different from grassroots lobbying, a process that uses direct communication with the general public, which, in turn, contacts and influences the government.
  • Meta-analysis reveals that direct lobbying is often used alongside grassroots lobbying.
  • Senate and House of Representatives are subject to direct lobbying tactics by lobbyists.

• Direct Techniques

  • Lobbyists employ direct lobbying in the United States to influence United States legislative bodies through direct interaction with legislators.
  • Communications regarding a ballot measure are also considered direct lobbying.
  • Direct lobbying is different from grassroots lobbying, a process that uses direct communication with the general public, who in turn contact and influence the government.
  • Direct lobbying is often used alongside grassroots lobbying.
  • Another aspect to the law is the spending restrictions between direct lobbying and grassroots lobbying—no more than 20% can be spent on grassroots lobbying at any given time, while 100% of the lobbying expenditures can be on direct lobbying.

• Mobilizing Public Opinion

  • Increasingly, lobbyists seek to influence politics by putting together large coalitions and using outside lobbying to sway public opinion.
  • In 1953, following a lawsuit that included a congressional resolution that authorized a governmental committee to investigate "all lobbying activities intended to influence, encourage, promote, or retard legislation," the Supreme Court narrowly construed "lobbying activities" to mean only "direct" lobbying.
  • The Court defined this "direct" method of lobbying as "representations made directly to the Congress, its members, or its committees".
  • Kollman asserted that this type of outside lobbying is a "powerful tool" for interest group leaders.
  • In a sense, using these criteria, one could consider James Madison as having engaged in outside lobbying.

• Indirect Techniques

  • Grassroots lobbying, or indirect lobbying, is a form of lobbying that focuses on raising awareness for a particular cause at the local level, with the intention of influencing the legislative process.
  • Grassroots lobbying is an approach that separates itself from direct lobbying through the act of asking the general public to contact legislators and government officials concerning the issue at hand, as opposed to conveying the message to the legislators directly.
  • Federal law does not mandate grassroots lobbying disclosure, yet 36 states regulate grassroots lobbying.
  • There are 22 states that define lobbying as direct or indirect communication to public officials, and 14 additional states that define it as any attempt to influence public officials.
  • The First Amendment rights of free speech, freedom of association, and freedom of petition protect lobbying, including grassroots lobbying.

• The Constitutional Right to Petition the Government

  • As a result, the legality of lobbying took "strong and early root" in the new republic.
  • In 1953, after a lawsuit involving a congressional resolution authorizing a committee to investigate "all lobbying activities intended to influence, encourage, promote, or retard legislation," the Supreme Court narrowly construed "lobbying activities" to mean only "direct" lobbying–which the Court described as "representations made directly to the Congress, its members, or its committees".
  • Lobbying, properly defined, is subject to control by Congress, . . .
  • It is said that lobbying itself is an evil and a danger.
  • Supreme Court has protected lobbying as free speech in numerous rulings since the early republic.

• Interest Groups

  • Groups use varied methods to try to achieve their aims including lobbying, media campaigns, publicity stunts, polls, research, and policy briefings.
  • Some powerful Lobby groups have been accused of manipulating the democratic system for narrow commercial gain.
  • In some instances, they have been found guilty of corruption, fraud, bribery, and other serious crimes; lobbying has become increasingly regulated as a result.
  • Some groups, generally ones with less financial resources, may use direct action and civil disobedience, and in some cases are accused of being domestic extremists or a threat to the social order.
  • Greenpeace uses direct action, lobbying, and research to achieve its goals.

• Governmental Interest Groups

  • City and state governments, for example, might lobby in Washington to pursue their goals and gain benefits.
  • At other times local governments may advocate for increased direct decision making powers, and control over new policy areas.
  • As with other interest groups many government interest groups also conduct work in public education and media campaigns in addition to their direct advocacy work.
  • The practice of local governments lobbying the federal government started with the New Deal during which an attempt was made to organize the distribution of funds and programs during that period.
  • Again, the support they seek might be direct finding through aid, but might also involve economic arrangements such as trade deals including free trade arrangements or reduction of US tariffs.

• Interest Groups

  • Lobbying (also lobby) is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government .
  • The ethics and morality of lobbying are dual-edged.
  • Governments often define and regulate organized group lobbying.
  • As a result, lobbying has become increasingly regulated.
  • Some groups, generally ones with less financial resources, may use direct action and civil disobedience.

• Regulating Executive Branch Lobbyists

  • Most lobbying during the nineteenth century happened within state legislatures.
  • When lobbying did happen, it was often "practiced discreetly" with little or no public disclosure.
  • Further complicating the relationship between lobbying and the Executive Branch is the fact that it is possible for one level of government to lobby another level.
  • Grant was in office during a period of more intense lobbying in the federal government between 1869 and 1877.
  • Summarize the key reasons behind the movement of lobbying activity from the state to the federal level

• Regulating Congressional Lobbyists

  • Many of the laws and guidelines are specified in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
  • According to the Lobbying Disclosure Act, several authorized definitions include: Lobbying activities means "lobbying contacts and efforts in support of such contacts, including preparation and planning activities, research and other background work that is intended, at the time it is performed, for use in contacts, and coordination with the lobbying activities of others. " Lobbying contact means "any oral or written communication (including an electronic communication) to a covered executive branch official or a covered legislative branch official."
  • Requirements for registering also apply to companies that specialize in lobbying, or ones that have an in-house lobbyist, particularly if they spend more than $11,500 on lobbying.
  • The resulting Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (1946) governed lobbying rules up until 1995 when the Lobbying Disclosure Act replaced it.
  • Describe the key difficulties that make the regulation of lobbying activity challenging