The branches of government charged with taking action on political issues. The U.S. Constitution established three policymaking institutions- the Congress, the presidency, and the courts. Today, the power of the bureaucracy is so great that most political scientists consider it a fourth policymaking institution.

The collective goods problem is the problem of how to provide something that benefits all members of a group regardless of what each member contributes to it. Three main principles can explain the behavior of an individual nation and how that nation may approach the collective goods problem

Selective Benefits. Definition:Goods (such as information publications, travel discounts, and group insurance rates) that a group can restrict to those who pay their annual dues.

Types of Lobbyist

• Employee Lobbyist. It is not unusual for businesses and organizations to assign one of their regular employees the task of lobbying.
• Contract Lobbyist.
• Subcontractor.
• Lobbying Firms & Other Lobbying Entities Employing Multiple Lobbyists.
• Volunteer Lobbyist.
• Unsalaried Lobbyist.
• Self-Employed Lobbyist.
• Casual Lobbyist.

When legislators propose new laws, they don’t always write the bills themselves. Corporations, interest groups or their lobbyists often write fill-in-the-blank documents then shop them to state lawmakers. These copy-and-paste bills are commonly known as model legislation.

A bill can be introduced in either chamber of Congress by a senator or representative who sponsors it. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on.

Lobbying is an important lever for a productive government. Without it, governments would struggle to sort out the many, many competing interests of its citizens. Fortunately, lobbying provides access to government legislators, acts as an educational tool, and allows individual interests to gain power in numbers

Lobbying by Phone

1. Be concise.
2. Identify yourself as a constituent.
3. State the reason for your call by bill number and/or subject.
4. Ask a specific question or request a specific action.
5. Relate the bill to a local example or problem State your position as “for” or “against” the bill.

Lobby Your Legislator

1. Know Yourself. Be aware of your own personal prejudices or biases.
2. Know Your Organization. If you are speaking on its behalf, you will want to be a credible representative.
3. Know Your Legislator.
4. Know Your Issue.
5. Know Your Opposition.
6. The Personal Visit.
7. The Telephone.
8. The Letter.

Corporate lobbying addresses whether an industry needs to be protected from economic shocks or foreign competition through subsidies or tariffs. At a local level, companies can lobby lawmakers to create infrastructure improvements, such as wider roads for shipping goods or more bus stops for commuting employees.

“Lobbying” means influencing or attempting to influence legislative action or nonaction through oral or written communication or an attempt to obtain the goodwill of a member or employee of the Legislature

Lobbying, any attempt by individuals or private interest groups to influence the decisions of government; in its original meaning it referred to efforts to influence the votes of legislators, generally in the lobby outside the legislative chamber. …

Basically, for IRS purposes, your nonprofit engages in lobbying anytime it attempts to persuade members of a legislative body to propose, support, oppose, amend, or repeal legislation. However, there does not have to be a specific law pending in a legislative body for lobbying to occur.

Grassroots = 25% of lobbying non-taxable amount….Advocacy and Lobbying Without Fear: What Is Allowed within a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization.

A 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status. Organizations may, however, involve themselves in issues of public policy without the activity being considered as lobbying