Grassroots Lobbying: A Case Study

Lobbyists are representatives of special interest groups, looking to influence public policy by petitioning the government directly, or indirectly (Soltero, 2016; Lenz & Holman, 2013). Interest groups often engage in direct lobbying which consists of approaching government officials to persuade them of a position on an issue (Soltero, 2016). Direct lobbying can include, lobbying Congress by testifying in front of a committee meeting, lobbying the executive branch and independent regulatory commissions by meeting with high-level officials, providing commentary and information, as well as lobbying the judicial branch, by filing an Amicus Curiae brief in support of a party involved in a Supreme Court hearing (Lenz & Holman, 2013). Indirect lobbying efforts, or grassroots lobbying, consist of mobilizing the public to persuade the government to support a position on an issue, by contacting their representatives and participating in protests (Soltero, 2016). Indirect lobbying can include organizing public opinion campaigns, such as advertisements and direct mailing, as well as holding fundraisers and meetings to spread awareness of a political opinion (Soltero, 2016; Lenz & Holman, 2013).
Examples of interest groups, represented by lobbyists, include public interest groups, concerned with issues affecting all of society and …show more content…
Government officials often leave their positions to register as lobbyists and lobbyists, reversely, leave their firms for government positions, which is believed to pose a significant conflict of interests (The Center, n.d.). President Obama aimed to slow that trend by restricting lobbying efforts and employment options for former members of Congress, through executive orders in 2009 (Soltero, 2016). As a result, the number of federally registered lobbyists has been shrinking (Soltero,