10.

5 Lobbying

Lobbying is normally defined as attempting to influence legislation

but, for all practical purposes, it also includes attempting to influence the

interpretation and administration of laws and regulations. Therefore we shall

treat it as aimed at both legislators and executors.

The Ethics of Lobbying:

Many people thinks that any practice to influence legislation or

administration of laws is evil. In their eyes "lobbying" is a nefarious

practice. There is a Federal law that requires all lobbyists to register with the

US Department of Justice. Some states, too, restrict lobbyists. Yet, there

really is nothing wrong in trying to secure favourable laws and regulations

or to prevent unfavourable ones.

Any other conclusion would require that all legislators and executive

department employees are absolutely fair and completely informed about all

subjects on which they pass judgment. With all the actual and potential laws

we have, it should be obvious that many of these law makers and law

enforcers must get help from people who are familiar with the subjects on

which action is to be taken.

The Nature of Lobbying

Lobbying has two functions-informing and persuading. It is the

persuasion that arouses most opposition, It is difficult to decide where

informing stops persuasion begins. Cold facts can be highly persuasive.

They can be even more effective when presented in a dramatic manner, even

though not a word of persuasion is used.

Lobbying is done by individuals, business firms, labor unions,

government agencies, and associations. Probably most lobbying is done by

associations which represent specific segments of business, agriculture or

industry. Thus there is lobbying for railroads, motor trucking, airline,

insurance, orange growers, brewers, automobile workers, school teachers,

liquor dealers, undertakers, and so on ad infinitum.

Lobbying can be continuous or done in brief. It there is a one-time,

short-term goal, the effort can be brief and the work stopped when the plan

succeeds or fails.

10.6 What Lobbyists Do?

Lobbyists are often visualized as furtive individuals using all kinds of

pressure to get their way. Lavis entertainment and bribery are thought of as

the tools they use to attain their objectives. Probably, some of this is done

but in the great majority of cases, the lobbyist is an honest and sincere

person whose main work is communication. He gives information to

governmental agencies and to his principals. A typical lobbyist may do any

or all of the following:

1) Inform his sponsor or principal about major developments in

legislative and executive :departments, such as a new committee

Cairman or a new-explanation of regulations.

2) Report the introduction and development of bills that might affect

the sponsor.

3) Arrange for the appearance of witnesses at legislative or executive

hearings and investigations.

4) File statements with committees or departments.

5) Communicate with legislators or executive personnel either in

person or by phone.

6) Examine proposed laws or regulations.

7) Inform the legislators and the public about possible effects of laws

or regulations.

8) Provide facts about his sponsor's policy regarding legislation or

regulation.

9) Assist in formulating his sponsors policy regarding legislation or

regulation.

10) Educate legislators and executive department personnel about the

economics of the business or industry he represents.

 11) Inform legislators and executive department people about the way

in which his business or industry he represents.

12) Help legislators draft laws.

13) Help executive department officials.

14) Publicize testimony given at hearings on proposed laws and

regulations.

15) Actively support or oppose laws by enlisting the help of the law

makers an by planning with them the legislative strategy needed.

16) Mobilize opposition to harmful laws or regulations.

17) Persuade legislators to introduce and support laws helpful to his

sponsor.

18) Persuade legislators to oppose laws harmful to his sponsor.

19) Persuade executive department personnel to personnel to prepare

favorable regulations or to revise unfavorable regulations.

10.7 Summary

Today corporate and Institutional is going in a complex environment. The

political regulatory, economic, social and technological factor shake the way

organization work and perform presently.

Practical experience demonstrate that barriers exist to understanding,

resourcing and managing the impact of change in the future, we are

convinced that the implications of failing to examine the farthest reaches of

the light house loom - how issue emerge, mature and resolved. Equally,

evidence exists to suggest that organizations can gain influence and

commercial advantage through positively shaping the progress trends,

conditions and events which spawn issues. The rationale for anticipation,

planning and progression to minimize and capitalize on opportunities in the

issues arena are explored in this lesson.

Effective issue communication is based on two key principles - early

identification and organized response to influence the public policy. It is a

proactive anticipatory and planned process designed to influence the

development of an issue before it evolves to a stage which requires crisis

management.

Exerting an influence on the development of identified issues before

they bring negative consequences means that an organization should actively

represents its interest in the public policy process, by broadening the debate

and informing those groups of importance. This advocacy participation in

the public policy process is central to issues communication. Although, there

is never a single generic approach that will help to anticipate identify and

plan a response to potential issues identify and plan a response to potential

issues in a methodical and innovative way.