Lobby
People, groups, and money that influence politicians. Legislative telemarketing — named for where it originally took place.
How We Say It
lob·ee
Where It Comes From
The lobby of the British House of Commons where members of the public could approach legislators. Came to mean the act of approaching and influencing them. The term 'lobbying' in its modern sense was established in American political usage by the mid-19th century.
How It's Been Used
Legal in the United States under First Amendment protections for petitioning government. Lobbyists are required to register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The industry spent approximately $4 billion in 2023. The term covers everything from a citizen contacting their representative to a former senator being paid millions to advocate for a corporation. The distance between those two activities is the distance between the word's democratic legitimacy and its current practice.