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Lobbyist Regulation

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Lobbying – a citizens' right to speak freely, to impact decisions, and petition the government is a crucial right, and an important part of the legislative process. Flowing from this right is an industry whose numbers have increased dramatically. A 2006 survey by the Center for Public Integrity put the number of paid lobbyists at state legislatures at near 40,000 and growing. These lobbyists work for more than 50,000 organizations and businesses, making it a $1 billion-a-year industry. In his book Third House, Alan Rosenthal, a professor of public policy at Rutgers University, attributes the increase in the number of lobbyists to the rise of special interest groups, particularly citizen groups. "Any group that can be touched by state government, or by a competitor using the auspices of state government, cannot afford to be without representation," he says.

State lobbying laws have sprung up in response to the proliferation of the “third house” and the influence that it exerts. The details of each state’s lobbying laws differ markedly, so much so that nearly 50 different versions exist. There are common themes, however. All states define who is a lobbyist and what is lobbying, and all definitions reflect that lobbying is an attempt to influence government action. All states have lobbyist registration requirements, and all require lobbyists to report on their activities.