LOBBYING

This article appears in Volume V16, Page 836 of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: LOB-LUP

LOBBYING , in America, a general term used to designate the efforts of persons who are not members of a legislative body to influence the course of legislation. In addition to the large number of American private bills which are constantly being introduced in Congress and the various state legislatures, there are many general measures, such as proposed changes in the tariff or in the railway or banking laws, which seriously affect

special

SPECIAL

interests. The people who are most intimately concerned naturally have a right to appear before the legislature or its repre-
LOBECK
sentative, the committee in charge of the bill, and present their side of the case. Lobbying in this sense is legitimate, and may almost be regarded as a, necessity. Unfortunately, however, all lobbying is not of this innocent character. The great industrial corporations, insurance companies, and railway and traction monopolies which have developed in comparatively

recent

RECENT

years are constantly in need of legislative favours; they are also compelled to protect themselves against legislation which is unreasonably severe, and against what are known in the slang of politics as strikes or hold-ups.' In order that these objects may be accomplished there are kept at Washington and at the various state capitals paid agents whose influence is so well recognized that they are popularly called " the third

house

." Methods of the most reprehensible kind have often been employed by them.
Att empts have been made to remedy the evil by constitutional prohinition, by statute law and by the action of the

governor

GOVERNOR (from the Fr. gouverneur, from gouverner, O. Fr. governer, Lat. gubernare, to steer a ship, to direct, guide)

of the state supported by.public

opinion

OPINION (Lat. opinio, from opinari, to think)

. Improper lobbying has been declared a -felony in California, Georgia, Utah, Tennessee, Oregc n, Montana and Arizona, and the constitutions of practically all of the states impose restrictions upon the enactment of

special

SPECIAL

and private legislation. The Massachusetts anti-lobbying act of 189o, which has served as a model for the legislation of Maryland (19oo), Wisconsin (1905) and a few of the other states, is bas ,d upon the publicity principle. Counsel and other legislative agents must register with the sergeant-at-arms giving the names and addresses of their employers and the date, term and character of their employment. In 1907 alone laws regulating lobbying were passed in nine statesAlabama, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and

Texas

TEXAS

.
See James

Bryce

BRYCE, JAMES (1838- )

, American Commonwealth (New

York

, ed. 1889), i. 673-678; Paul S. Reinsch, American Legislatures and Legislative Methods (New

York

YORK
YORK (HOUSE OF)
YORK, EDMUND OF
LANGLEY
- LANGLEY, SAMUEL PIERPONT (1834-1906)
, DUKE OF (1341-1402)
YORK, EDWARD
YORK, FREDERICK
AUGUSTUS
- AUGUSTUS (a name 1 derived from Lat. augeo, increase, i.e. venerable, majestic, Gr. Ee0avr6s)
, DUKE OF (1763-1827)
YORK, RICHARD, DUKE

, 1907), chaps. viii., ix.; Margaret A. Schaffner, " Lobbying," in Wisconsin Comparative Legislation Bulletins, No. 2; and G. M. Gregory, The Corrupt Use of Money in Politics and Laws for its Prevention (Madison, Wis., 1893).

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