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Grassroots lobbying

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Grassroots lobbying (also indirect lobbying) is about raising awareness of a particular cause at the local level, with the intention of reaching the legislature and making a difference in the decision-making process. Grassroots lobbying is an approach that separates itself from direct lobbying through the act of asking the general public to contact legislators and government officials concerning the issue at hand, as opposed to directing the message at the legislation themselves. Its goal is to influence legislation through the general public. Companies, associations and citizens are increasingly partaking in grassroots lobbying as an attempt to influence a change in legislation.[1]

The unique characteristic of grassroots lobbying compared to other forms of lobbying is that in involves stimulating the politics of specific communities. This type of lobbying is different from the usual type as it is naturally brought upon by the organization unlike the structural lobbying seen elsewhere.

Tactics

There are several tactics used by groups in order to promote advocacy of different issues among the legislature, but the main two tactics used in Grassroots or "outside" advocacy are holding press conferences or organizing press releases, and mobilizing the mass membership to create a movement.[2] By mobilizing the group that the lobby has built, this puts pressure on the legislature to listen and take notice of what concerns they may have. These tactics are used after the lobbying group gains a portion of the publics trust and support through speaking out in crowded areas, passing out flyers and even campaigning through web and television outlets. More recently, due to the potential of other modern communication devices, grassroots lobbying is expected to only increase as a form of shaping public opinion.[3]

Media Lobbying

Media lobbying as a type of grassroots lobbying can come in a variety of forms. Their attempt is to create campaigns that support the legislation being objected. These campaigns are published in all forms of media ranging from television to magazines and internet. Because grassroots lobbying is geared toward local organizations and communities, these types of media outlets are used mainly by large associations that can afford them. Smaller organizations tend to use free media on public television, radio and other smaller outlets. Other forms of free media that make a large impact are things like boycotting, protesting and demonstrations.[4]

Large Company Campaigns

Large companies take advantage of grassroots lobbying as a means of impacting change in legislation. There are certain steps that need to be implemented before the outcome of the lobbying can take place.

  • The first step is a 'legislative action program'. This is the role of the management to make the action important in the eyes of the rest of the organization. Not only must they identify specific legislation concerns to the rest of the company, the lobbyists must also a type of study identifying the sectors of the public that are being affected.
  • The second step is to sensitize the members of the organization to writing, calling or visiting officials and the Member of Congress as soon as an 'alert' is given. This will bring about internal communication with levels of authority.
  • Finally, the third step is media planning. There must be use of advertising, posting articles, commercials and TV programming that feature people impacted by the specific cause. These will be geared to those representatives of a Congressional district.[1]

Trends from the past decade in grassroots lobbying have been the increase in aggressive recruiting of volunteers and starting campaigns early on, way before the legislature must make a decision. Also, with increasing technology and modern communication techniques, lobbying groups have been able to create interactive web pages to email, recruit volunteers, assign them to tasks and keep the goal of the lobbying group on the right track.[5] With the added devices of today such as Facebook and Twitter, Grassroots lobbyists have an even easier, cheaper, and faster way to reach the masses and develop a strong base for their issues to be heard.

Hot Topics for Lobbyists

Not surprisingly, the major concerns of the general public do not reflect those of the lobbying groups. This is why the lobbying groups feel that they must use the aforementioned tactics to sway the public a certain way on an issue that they may never knew existed. To the general public, crime is the number one problem in nation, followed by the state of the economy and international affairs. However, the main concern for lobbying groups in the past has been on health concerns. A study done in 2009 shows that over 20 percent of lobbying groups put health concerns such as disease prevention, Medicare, or prescription drugs as a top priority. This interest in health is followed closely by environmental concerns as well.[6] Although Grassroots lobbying has changed the stage of such advocacy, it is still concerning the same issues as other more traditional or direct lobbying

Regulations

Lobbying and the stimulation of grassroots lobbying, is protected by the First Amendment rights of speech, association, and petition.[7] Federal law does not mandate grassroots lobbying disclosure, yet, 36 states regulate grassroots lobbying. 22 states define lobbying as direct or indirect communication to public officials, and 14 additional states define lobbying as any attempt to influence public officials.[8] A group or individual classified as a lobbyist must submit regular disclosure reports. Reports accurately disclose activities and all financial support, however, reporting requirements vary from state to state. Some states disclosures are minimal and require only registration, while some states disclosure requirements are extensive, including but not limited to: filing of monthly to quarterly expense reports, including all legislative activity relevant to the individual or groups activities, amounts of contributions and donations, as well as the names and addresses of contributors and specified expenses.[9] The grassroots lobbying disclosure law in Washington requires that any person or group that spends more than $500 per month or $1000 in three months from grassroots lobbying expenditures is required to file with the states Public Disclosure Commission and disclose his or hers name/ groups name, business, occupation, and address. Also the names and addresses of anyone or any group the grassroots lobbyists are working with, as well as anyone who contributes more than $25 towards lobbying efforts.[10] Part-time employment or expenses of $500 per month on communications efforts is a common onset for disclosure reports, varying from states. Penalties range from civil fines to criminal penalties if regulations are not complied.[11]

IRS

Grassroots lobbying is classified under Schedule C (form 990 or 990-EZ), Political Campaign and Lobbying Activities. Schedule C is used by Section 501 (c) and 527 organization organizations. These organizations are required to use Schedule C to provide additional information on political campaign activities and lobbying activities.

See also

Main article: List of basic public affairs topics

References

  1. ^ a b Graziano, Luigi (2001). Lobbying, Pluralism and Democracy. palgrave. p. 57. ISBN 0-333-92056-2.
  2. ^ Baumgartner, Frank (2009). Lobbying and Policy Change: Who wins, Who loses, and Why. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 151–156. ISBN 9780226039459.
  3. ^ Cooper, George (1968). "The Tax Treatment of Business Grassroots Lobbying: Defining and Attaining the Public Policy Objectives". Columbia Law Review. 68 (5): 801–859. Retrieved 4 April 2011. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Hrebenar, Ronald J. (2009). Lobbying In America. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-1-59884. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  5. ^ Bonner, Jack (1). "Trends in Grassroots Lobbying: Consultant Q & A". Campaigns and Elections. Retrieved 4 April 2011. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Baumgartner, Frank (2009). Lobbying and Policy Change: Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 15–17. ISBN 9780226039459.
  7. ^ Maskell, Jack. "Grassroots Lobbying: Constitutionality of Disclosure Requirement" (PDF). Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  8. ^ Milyo, Jeffrey. "Mowing Down the Grassroots" (PDF). Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  9. ^ Milyo, Jeffrey. "Mowing Down the Grassroots" (PDF). Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  10. ^ "Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure Laws and the First Amendment". OMB Watch. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  11. ^ Milyo, Jeffrey. "Mowing Down the Grassroots" (PDF). Retrieved 5 April 2011.
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