Brookings Institution

It’s that simple. To do so, sometimes it is necessary to mobilize voters in the legislator by means of refined campaigns at the grassroots level and in the media, so that the public are aware of the issue and exert pressure on the legislator to vote in favour of the cause which one argues adds Meek. Lobby is of enormous significance in the operation of the Government, said Thomas Mann, director of governmental studies at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based political analysis organization. As the Government expands and the problems become more complex, members of Congress and their aides, overwhelmed working, have to rely ever more on outside experts for information. This has led to the development of big lobbying firms, able not only to establish contact with congressmen and their aides, but also of track them thousands of regulations, placing ads, do voters to send letters and make phone calls and get their spokespersons are manifest in the media or newspapers to how to position positions that might become widely accepted or popular rejection, depends on the proposed goal.

Lobbying firms usually occupy Congressional Affairs and the complexities of the law, insofar as public relations firms cater rather media or publishing ads at the grassroots level that will make the public to write to their congressmen, says the lawyer and lobbyist Mary Lyman. Quite often, he says, a lobbying firm will subcontract to a public relations firm working with the media. As an example, let us remember the intense news offensive unleashed on the occasion of the free trade agreement with Central America and Dominican Republic (ALCA). The agreement, which would open up trade between the United States and several countries in the region, needed Congressional approval to come into force. Subscribers of these agreements countries also are they developed strong lobbying campaigns to achieve approval the congresses of each of these countries by the signing, in the midst of serious and well sustained by grassroots organizations and campaigns left opposed claiming more damage and asymmetries that benefits in the economies of small countries in comparison with the United States.

Equal lobbyist or lobbying activity is carried out now in the countries seeking agreement the Bolivarian alternative for the Americas (ALBA), formed by Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Martinique, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Honduras. There are actions of lobbying on both sides: those who are in agreement and opponents in each country. In summary, the lobbying is a process: through which it seeks to achieve specific changes in institutional policies. In which it is possible to involve several organizations and individuals. It is generally open and public. In which groups of citizens are asserting its right to try to change society. Which recreates the way democracy integral. In which trains citizens for political influence. Education in which are rescued, both professional and practical knowledge of the citizens. That encourages networking between groups or instances civil, social and political work. In synthesis, lobbying seeks to influence the decision makers at governmental and political level in a professional and strategic manner. It is all a profession that becomes popular and necessary in the field of Latin American countries today.