lobbying
Seeking political influence
Lobbying is attempting to influence legislators or other public officials on behalf of a particular interest.
Lobbyists work to shape policy by meeting with lawmakers, providing information, and advocating positions: The pharmaceutical industry spends millions on lobbying each year.
The term extends to any organized effort to sway decision-makers: lobbying the school board for longer recess.
Organized effort toward goal
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- PACCampaign contribution pooler
- super PACUnlimited-donation political organization
- donationsGifts to organizations
fundraising · backroom · policy · pressure · clout · leverage · interest group · revolving door
Corrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- graftIllicit political gain
- quid-pro-quoExchange of equivalents
- under-the-tableSecret and unofficial
favors · scandal · sleaze · payola · unethical · backdoor · covert · illicit
Common people as political base
- petitionFormal written appeal
- stakeholderParty with an interest
- outreachProactive community assistance
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
coalition · alliance · nonprofit · spokesperson · public interest · watchdog · mobilization · letter-writing
Amount owed, written
- amendmentChange to official text
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
legislator · lawmaker · policy · committee · hearing · markup · testimony · briefing
Art of persuasive language
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- convincingAble to persuade
- influencePower to affect others
- compellingPowerfully engaging or persuasive
talking points · spin · framing · messaging · pitch · negotiation · charm offensive · schmoozing
Cooperation between political rivals
- partisanBiased toward one side
- caucusParty selection meeting
- constituencyElectoral district's voters
- electorateEligible voting body
incumbent · delegate · primary · midterm · gerrymandering · filibuster · special interest · party platform
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- PACCampaign contribution pooler
- super PACUnlimited-donation political organization
donations · fundraising · backroom · policy · pressure · clout · leverage · interest group · revolving door · access
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- graftIllicit political gain
- quid-pro-quoExchange of equivalents
under-the-table · favors · scandal · sleaze · payola · unethical · backdoor · covert · illicit · rigging
grassroots
Common people as political base
- petitionFormal written appeal
- stakeholderParty with an interest
- outreachProactive community assistance
engagement · coalition · alliance · nonprofit · spokesperson · public interest · watchdog · mobilization · letter-writing · phone bank
bill
Amount owed, written
- amendmentChange to official text
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
senate · legislator · lawmaker · policy · committee · hearing · markup · testimony · briefing · earmark
rhetoric
Art of persuasive language
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- convincingAble to persuade
- influencePower to affect others
compelling · talking points · spin · framing · messaging · pitch · negotiation · charm offensive · schmoozing · wining and dining
bipartisanship
Cooperation between political rivals
- partisanBiased toward one side
- caucusParty selection meeting
- constituencyElectoral district's voters
electorate · incumbent · delegate · primary · midterm · gerrymandering · filibuster · special interest · party platform · swing vote
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- collective actionunite, join forces, team up, mobilization, movement
- grassrootsgrassroots, activist, volunteer, volunteers, volunteering
- lobbyinggovernment relations, influence peddling, power broker, hired gun, fixer
- political tacticscampaigning, gerrymandering, filibuster, campaigns, voter suppression
- politickingcampaigning, electioneering, canvassing, stumping, caucusing
lobbyingvoting
Formally registering a choice
nonlobbying · grassroots activism · protesting · direct democracy · civil disobedience
lobbyingpolitical apathy
Indifference to governance
disengagement · nonparticipation · inaction · passivity · abstention
lobbyingpublic advocacy
Promoting causes openly
open debate · public discourse · public testimony · op-ed writing
- corporate lobbyingBusiness efforts swaying lawmakers
- lobbying firmOrganization paid to influence legislators
- lobbying groupsOrganizations influencing policy decisions
- political lobbyingOrganized influence on legislators
- lobbying effortsAttempts to influence policy
- industry lobbyingOrganized business political influence