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Lobbying Definition

Most people think lobbying is defined as "the act of bribing politicians." But in order to understand how corporations and special interest groups have hijacked our democracy through lobbying, we must take a look in-depth and sophisticated look at what lobbying really is and the real meaning of lobbying...

What is the definition of lobbying?

Lobbying is the act of trying to influence a politician of public official on an issue.

How do other dictionaries define lobbying?

There are slight variations on the definition of lobbying, depending on which dictionary you look up: 

Merriam Webster defines a lobbyist as one who tries to influence public officials.

To attempt to influence someone (such as a public official) towards a desired action

Dictionary.com defines lobbyists as a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators.

To try to influence the votes of members of a legislative body

The cambridge dictionary definition of a lobbyist

The activity of trying to persuade someone in authority, usually an elected member of a government, to support laws or rules that give your organization or industry an advantage:

What is Lobbying in Simple Terms?

The best way to explain lobbying in the simplest terms is trying to influence. There are many different ways you can influence politicians. You can donate to their campaigns, build relationships with their staff, convince the that a decision is good for them politically, or just make a compelling argument. Regardless of how it is done, in the simplest of terms, lobbying is the art of influencing people. 
 

What are the different types of lobbying?

There are many different types of lobbying. The most common is corporate lobbying, where corporations lobby Congress to gain an advantage for their industry or to protect their bottom line. There are also public interest lobbying where nonprofits or other public interest groups lobby congress 
 

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