Lobbying is the practice of influencing a governing body in order to reflect an organisation's point of view in the legislature. Lobbyists in the United States target the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and state legislatures, and may also represent their clients' or organizations' interests in dealings with federal, state, or local executive branch agencies or the courts.
Lobbying is generally a regulated activity with limits placed on how it is conducted, in an attempt to prevent political corruption. Most corporations and political interest groups hire lobbyists to promote their interests.
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Lobbying is frequently performed on behalf of organizations which also make campaign contributions. This has led to allegations of corruption by opponents of some lobbying organizations.
Politicians are sometimes placed in apparently compromising positions because of their need to solicit financial contributions for their campaigns. Critics complain that they then appear to be acting in the interests of those who fund them, giving rise to talk of political corruption.
Supporters of the system respond that many politicians act in the interests of those who fund them due to common ideologies or shared local interests, and that lobbyists merely support those who agree with their positions.
Allegations of corruption in lobbying
See also
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