lobbyist
Legislative pressure agent
A lobbyist is someone paid to influence legislators or government officials on behalf of a particular interest—a corporation, industry, union, or cause.
Lobbyists work to shape policy through meetings, research, and persuasion: The pharmaceutical lobbyists pushed hard against price controls.
The term derives from the practice of approaching politicians in the lobbies of legislative buildings.
Amount owed, written
- amendmentChange to official text
- statuteEnacted written rule
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
act · resolution · earmark · provision · markup · committee · hearing · testimony
Wielder of political influence
- dealmakerOne who negotiates agreements
- fixerOne who resolves issues
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
- negotiatorOne who bargains professionally
facilitator · go-between · mediator · strategist · consultant · connections · networking · access
Authorized representative communicator
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- supporterOne who backs another
- representativeOne who acts for another
- promoterOne who organizes events
defender · backer · ally · patron · endorser · proponent · upholder · pleader
Legislative governing body
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- representativeOne who acts for another
- governmentAuthority over a state
policy · democracy · coalition · caucus · constituency · incumbent · bipartisan · lawmaker
Common people as political base
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- rallyGathering for a cause
- petitionFormal written appeal
endorsement · PAC · fundraising · donation · contribution · special interest · astroturf · letter-writing
Art of persuasive language
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- influencePower to affect others
- negotiateDiscuss to reach agreement
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
talking points · briefing · position paper · white paper · fact sheet · testimony · pitch · presentation
bill
Amount owed, written
- amendmentChange to official text
- statuteEnacted written rule
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
ordinance · act · resolution · earmark · provision · markup · committee · hearing · testimony · draft
powerbroker
Wielder of political influence
- dealmakerOne who negotiates agreements
- fixerOne who resolves issues
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
negotiator · facilitator · go-between · mediator · strategist · consultant · connections · networking · access · backroom
spokesperson
Authorized representative communicator
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- supporterOne who backs another
- representativeOne who acts for another
promoter · defender · backer · ally · patron · endorser · proponent · upholder · pleader · apologist
senate
Legislative governing body
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- representativeOne who acts for another
government · policy · democracy · coalition · caucus · constituency · incumbent · bipartisan · lawmaker · politician
grassroots
Common people as political base
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- rallyGathering for a cause
petition · endorsement · PAC · fundraising · donation · contribution · special interest · astroturf · letter-writing · phone banking
rhetoric
Art of persuasive language
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- influencePower to affect others
- negotiateDiscuss to reach agreement
discourse · talking points · briefing · position paper · white paper · fact sheet · testimony · pitch · presentation · charm offensive
- persuaderspersuader, orator, orators, public speaker, speechmaker
- power brokerspowerbroker, kingpin, kingmakers, puppeteer, kingmaker
- jobsdoctor, administrator, lawyer, teacher, nurse
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- U.S. PoliticsCongress, senator, representative, president, vice president
- US Politicsconservatism, ballot, liberalism, bill, constitutionalism
lobbyistelected official
Voter-chosen public servant
legislator · lawmaker · voter · constituent · senator
lobbyistwatchdog
Guard or monitor
ombudsman · whistleblower · public defender · muckraker · reformer
lobbyistgrassroots activist
Local-level political mobilizer
protester · community organizer · dissident · outsider · reformer
- 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