Government Lobbying In America

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Lobbying in America Lobbying has long been a topic of controversy since the dawn of our political system. Some see it as a necessary means to petition the government while others claim it is a mere mask for bribery. The former opinion has stood the test of time and proved that despite episodes of scandal, lobbying has promoted vital legislation and is a constitutional right every free individual should be able to practice. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines lobbying as a form of advocacy with the intention of influencing decisions made by the government, by individuals or by specialized lobby groups; it includes all attempts to influence legislators and officials, whether by other legislators, constituents or organized groups. The word…show more content…
Lobbyists had to revise their tactics by paying closer attention to bills and formulating respectable campaigns to back their practice. Many of the lobbying devices devised in that era are hailed as legitimate today. Laws and regulations were passed, such as the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 which defined a lobbyist as any person “who by himself, or through any agent or employee or other persons in any matter whatsoever, directly or indirectly, solicits collects, or receives money or any other thing of value to be used principally... to influence, directly or indirectly, the passage or defeat of any legislation by the Congress of the United States.” (Senate) This change in meaning incorporated a broad spectrum of criteria that could be applied to any petitioner, regardless of corporate status. Anyone who met these guidelines was forced to register their name, address, salary and all expenses with the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House. These guide lines were designed to keep constant updated files on lobbyists and records to deter scandal. By the early 2000's, lobbyists practiced their trade not only in the halls of the United States Capitol and the corridors of the state legislatures, but also on playgrounds, in boardrooms, in manufacturing plants, at cocktail parties and in retirement homes. (Pol dic) Lobbying has since become mainstream staple of politics. This growth spawned a whole new generation of lobbyists from all walks of life with different agendas. Virtually any group or individual could petition a governing body to sway legislation in their favor. Lobbying could now be seen in aspects of everyday life. Parents can lobby school boards while shoppers can persuade a store manager to change opening
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