What does lobbyist do

Virgin Islands, including distance education and correspondence education programs offered at those institutions. Skip to main content. What does a lobbyist do? Here are a few other roles and responsibilities of lobbyists: Nurturing ongoing relationships with people of influence i.

How do you become a paid lobbyist? How much do lobbyists make? How do you become a successful lobbyist? Get Program Details. This will only take a moment. What is your highest level of education? Next Step We value your privacy. Complete the form to download the brochure. This article will discuss the most common duties and traits of lobbyists as well as the steps you need to take to become one.

A lobbyist is a professional advocate who works to influence political decisions on behalf of specific organizations and people. As official members of the political process, lobbyists are intricately involved in the creation and implementation of new laws. Most states define lobbying as an attempt to influence government action through written or oral communication, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures Their definition of a lobbyist is someone paid to lobby on behalf of another.

However, lobbyists can't pay politicians for their votes so rules are in place regarding disclosures, gift restrictions and prohibitions. Some individuals make lobbying a full-time profession while others may lobby part time or as a volunteer.

All lobbyists need to register with their state to show they're acting on behalf of a specific company or interest. The type of client lobbyists work for affects the specific tasks that they do.

Lobbyists develop materials that promote their causes, such as pamphlets and videos. They may distribute materials to the public and government members to influence them to support their cause. To create the change they want, lobbyists research issues, policies and pending legislation.

They determine how various laws and regulations affect their clients or causes and how to introduce new legislation that will benefit them. Since different laws can be complicated, they need to research all details to have a thorough understanding of the matter.

After speaking to legislators and their staff, lobbyists explain to their clients what the effects of a particular bill or law might be. This may require attending legislative committee meetings and hearings to gather necessary background information.

Lobbyists need to form relationships with various members of government bodies to ensure they present their causes to the right people. They should also be able to develop a rapport with influential public figures who can assist in causes. Lobbyists must be prepared to appear before members of the government to present their objectives. They may need to speak in a public setting, but they may also have one-on-one meetings or in small groups to discuss details. A lobbyist may need to educate government officials on certain topics before they can explain why their causes are important.

One of the most important tasks of any lobbyist is to influence public opinions as well as the opinions of those in a position to make and change the laws. Nearly all states require periodic disclosure reports from lobbyists and those who hire them. This requires public reports on how much money was spent, what issues were lobbied and which officials benefitted from the expenditures.

If you are interested in becoming a lobbyist, you will need to complete the following steps:. Common degrees for this field include political science, communications, journalism or economics. You can also get a degree in the area you plan to lobby in, such as environmental science or criminal justice. To further your knowledge in a specific subject, you can also earn your master's degree. What Does a Lobbyist Do? A lobbyist generally performs a wide range of functions, but the most notable are the following:.

Direct lobbying means actually meeting with congressmen and providing them with information pertinent to a bill being voted on. The lobbyist imparts her information with the help of graphs, charts, polls, and reports that she has hunted up or created. Needless to say, this is usually information that the politician might not otherwise have access to, that casts the matter in a light favorable to the interest the lobbyist represents.

Sometimes, lobbyists will even sit down and help a politician draft legislation that is advantageous for their interest. While lobbyists and their employers cannot themselves make large campaign donations to politicians, they can, and do, raise money from other sources for reelection campaigns.

To be successful at all of this, the lobbyist must be well-informed, persuasive, and self-confident. Indirect lobbying, sometimes referred to as grassroots organizing, is a bit less glamorous. This means long hours spent on the phone and writing letters, trying to rouse the community to get involved. These lobbyists also report to politicians about the concerns and reactions they have gotten from community members. Indirect lobbying is also done through the media. Grassroots lobbyists write articles for newspapers and magazines and appear on talk shows to generate interest in and awareness of their issues.

Lobbyists tend to work long hours-between forty and eighty hours per week is normal, and when a bill is up for vote they will usually work through at least one night.

These honest lobbyists, who represent every segment of society, take refuge in the knowledge that they are working to promote causes they believe in.