Lobbying is the practice of approaching politicians in order to persuade them to support a particular aim or cause, and then to speak about it and draw attention to it. In the US this means trying to obtain the support of members of Congress or a state legislature (= people making laws at state level). In Britain lobbying involves persuading MPs or members of the House of Lords to speak in Parliament .
Anyone can write to their MP or a member of Congress, or organize a petition about an issue, but most lobbying is now done by pressure groups or by professional lobbyists . Pressure groups work on behalf of a particular section of society or for a specific issue or cause. Many employ full-time liaison officers to develop contacts with politicians who are likely to be sympathetic. In Britain some MPs are employed by pressure groups as consultants . They have to give details of such employment in a special Register of Members’ Interests .
Large companies use professional lobbyists to keep them informed of what is being discussed in Congress or Parliament and to try to persuade politicians to put forward their point of view in debates. In the US lobbyists provide information to politicians, sometimes by testifying (= giving evidence) before Congress. They also try to influence the way members of Congress vote, for example by persuading them that a certain policy will be popular with the people they represent. Lobbyists may try to influence politicians by inviting them to an expensive lunch or dinner in a restaurant, or to a party. There are rules limiting what gifts politicians can accept and any gifts must be reported. Some organizations have many lobbyists who are very active.
In Britain the methods which lobbyists use to influence MPs, and the issue of whether MPs should be connected with lobbyists at all, came to public attention in 1996 when two MPs were found guilty of taking money in exchange for asking questions in Parliament. It became known as the cash for questions affair.