Strategic Lobbying Essay
– Is it possible that groups of interest select their lobbying tactics in response to the different legal terms and legislation that they pursue?
In the article “Strategic Lobbying: Demonstrating How Legislative Context Affects Interest Groups’ Lobbying Tactics,” Victor (2007) paints a picture of lobbying as an essential democratic principle. Whereas it is certain that at the thought of the principle of lobbying, one easily thinks of different things, it is factual that the term has only a specific insinuation. However, lobbying means bargaining objectively and is a principle that operates across the political arena (Klingelhöfer, 2018). Thus, it is within the interest of this paper to argue that lobbying is a complicated principle in which individuals, otherwise term as lobbyists, bring to attention the specific injustices that are committed against certain sects of the society and attempt to defend them.
Lobbying is a vital component of the democratic process because it provides an avenue for grievances to be heard and considered (Veksler, 2015). Therefore, the principle contributes to the day-to-day running of the government processes as it avails an avenue for those in government to receive sufficient information on a mater. This is because lobbyists have a full understanding of the legal process. Based on the definition of the term, the relationship that exists between lawmakers and lobbyists as explained by Victor (2007) is one that is based on earning trust. On this principle, the parties that hold specific interest on a subject (lobbyists) are vital suppliers of information to lawmakers.
The US Constitution explains that the Congress should make no laws permanent if they abridge the freedom of the people to petition the government to redress their grievances (Kanitra, 2019). Therefore, the principle, being protected by the constitution, remains an important part of decision making even in the Supreme Court. Essentially, the judicial process should include lobbying and careful consideration of the grievances presented by complainants.
The paper explains, “The empirical design associates direct and indirect interest group lobbying activities with specific policies and tests the hypothesis that interest groups use legislative context as a part of their decision calculus when considering how to lobby Congress (Victor, 2017).” Thus, the paper surmises in a conclusion that the legal level is a vital element of lobbying although the reverse is also true that lobbying is an essential principle in the practice of democracy
References
Klingelhöfer, J. (2018). LOBBYING AND ELECTIONS. Bulletin of Economic Research, 71(1), 1-17. doi: 10.1111/boer.12148
Kanitra, P. (2019). Lobbying Is an Essential Part of the Democratic Process | LobbyIt.com. Retrieved from https://lobbyit.com/lobbying-essential-part-democratic-process/
Veksler, A. (2015). Lobbying in the sunshine-hiding behind transparency?. Journal Of Public Affairs, 16(1), 39-49. doi: 10.1002/pa.1564
Victor, J. (2007). Strategic Lobbying. American Politics Research, 35(6), 826-845. doi: 10.1177/1532673×07300681
