Government lobbyists in America spent close to $4 billion last year lobbying lawmakers. Most people think of political lobbying as some kind of sinister pressure activity. It is actually an essential part of a functioning democracy.

Government lobbying is actually enshrined in the First Amendment as the right to petition your government. However, it has also been used in a non-transparent, morally questionable way by various groups over the years.

Anyone can become a lobbyist, whether you work for a non-profit or a Fortune 500 Company. If you’re wondering how does lobbying work, here are five essential things you need to know.

Government Lobbying is a Broad Church

So what does lobbying mean? It is the persuading, petitioning, and pressuring legislators on behalf of a non-governmental group or business.

The practice is highly controversial. It is generally associated with secretive, wealthy corporations. However, lobbying is an incredibly diverse activity.

Of the thousands of registered lobbyists in D.C, many work on behalf of charities, awareness groups, and human rights organizations.

The law affects everyone, therefore lobbying exists in about every area of public and private life.

Lobbying is Lucrative

Lobbying is big business. According to the GW POL grad school blog, lobbyists brought in a total of more than $3.2 billion during the first year of the Trump Administration alone.

While the number of lobbyists overall has declined since its Obama-era peak, salaries are higher than ever. The salary of a D.C lobbyist generally ranges from $100,000 to $170,000, although some earn seven figures. Now is the best time to be a lobbyist.

Lobbying Works

A key part of what is a lobbyist is an ability to get results. Many people doubt the effectiveness of the activity, but the results are clear. Countless analyses have shown that lobby groups have a powerful effect on government legislation.

Many of the most important legislative processes of the past decade have been influenced and even controlled by lobby groups. What’s more, the effectiveness of lobbying seems to be directly connected to how much money they spend.

Studies have shown a strong correlation between resources spent by lobby groups and the success of their efforts to influence legislators.

Lobbying is Centralized

It is important to note that lobbying is not a geographically widespread profession. The overwhelming majorities of lobbyists in America reside and work with the capital region.

There are clusters of lobby groups operating in political centers such as NYC and Boston, but these are relatively few.

Internationally, lobbyists also congregate in politically important cities such as Brussels, London, Moscow, and Paris.

Lobbying Qualifications

If you’re wondering what do lobbyists do to become a lobbyist, there is no straightforward answer. Many have educational backgrounds in political science and communication.

Others tend to leave careers in politics, tech, media, and law to become lobbyists. Knowledge of political communication and the D.C political scene is usually a must.

A degree or a diploma in politics, political management, communications, and policy is also helpful.

Learn More

Government lobbying is one small part of the vast kaleidoscope of American politics. To learn more about political careers and developments, make sure to follow our politics tag for all of the info you’ll ever need.