What is Lobbying?
Lobbying is defined as “the attempt to influence legislation.” Legislation includes actions by Congress or any state legislature, local council, or other similar governing body. Actions by these bodies include acts, bills, or resolutions. If an exempt organization contacts, or urges the public to contact, a member or employee of a governing body in order to advocate for or against an action by the body, it is lobbying.
Lobbying occurs when a paid lobbyist communicates with a public office holder in an attempt to influence: • the development of any legislative proposal by any member of the Legislative Assembly • the introduction, passage, defeat or amendment of any bill or resolution • the making or amendment of any regulation • the development, amendment or termination of any policy or program • any decision about privatization or outsourcing • the awarding of any grant, contribution or other financial benefit by or on behalf of the Crown • the arrangement of meetings between a public office holder and any other person (consultant lobbyists only).
Lobbying is a type of advocacy that attempts to influence specific legislation by stating a position to a legislator or other government employee who participates in the formulation of legislation. Lobbying by nonprofit organizations exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is a legal and acceptable activity. A private foundation, such as WKKF, may not lobby or earmark funds to support lobbying. However, private foundations may give grants to public charities that lobby. According to the changes Congress made to the lobbying laws in 1976, lobbying is defined by law only as the expenditure of money by the organization for the purpose of attempting to influence legislation (The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide, Independent Sector, 1999). Any communications that are intended to influence a specific piece of legislation are considered to be lobbying. There are two types of lobbying: 1. Direct lobbying – Attempts to influence specific legislation by stating a position to a legislator (co
Although lobbying is an ancient art as old as government itself it is still frequently viewed with suspicion. It is, in fact, a legitimate activity protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution: “Congress shall make no law….abridging the freedom of speech….or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” The term “lobbyist” came into usage early in the 19th century, although stories of its origin vary. One account describes “lobby-agents” as the petitioners in the lobby of the New York State Capitol waiting to address legislators. Another version of the story describes the lobby of the Willard Hotel as the meeting site for both legislators and favor-seekers during the early 1800s. Either way, by 1835 the term had been shortened to “lobbyist” and was in wide usage in the U.S. Capitol, though frequently pejoratively. The caricature is as familiar as the name: portly, cigar-smoking men who wine and dine lawmakers whi
Lobbying is an attempt to influence specific legislation. Legislation is an action by a “legislative body,” which may be Congress, a state legislature, or a local legislative body such as a city council. Legislation also includes actions by the general public through a referendum, initiative or proposed constitutional amendment. Significantly, a “legislative body” does not include judicial, executive or administrative bodies, such as zoning and school boards. In other words, attempts to influence your local housing agency (an executive body) or your mayor (an executive) would not constitute lobbying (unless you ask an executive to engage in the legislative process, such as vetoing a bill). Also significantly, to constitute “lobbying,” you must either support or oppose legislation. In other words, making a general argument that government has a role in supporting low-income people, or that the growth in inequality should be halted, is not considered lobbying. Under the rules, there are
