The tactic of lobbying can be used by trade groups and policy advocates to get legislators to adopt good legislation. Lobbyists exert pressure on the government to enact progressive policies in opposition to the majoritarian majority (Greenberg & Page, 2018). If Congress is able to pass legislation with a majority of its members, it has more power. Lobbyists have the ability to counter these effects by offering alternative viewpoints and promoting fair governance. Lobbying can help establish connections with elected officials which makes it easier to pass policies that benefit others. By generating support for certain causes, lobbying gives ordinary citizens more power and a greater voice in government. This also encourages citizens to be proactive in their participation in politics.
Lobbying can be costly because it requires substantial financial resources in order to persuade elected officials to take a particular course of action. Institutions with low financial resources are not able to achieve optimal results. It also prioritizes the needs of the minorities over those of the majority. This generates an unbalanced society in which the minority dictates the course of the country (Ron & Singer, A2020). A disadvantage of lobbying is its ineffectiveness and potential failure to address sociopolitical issues. In this instance, gun control rules, despite efforts to lobby, were not altered or made.
It should be forbidden for a former Representative to work as a lobbyist. Ex-members of Congress were able to influence social change more effectively than they realized, though it was not their decision. Because they don’t feel motivated by the public interest, it is quite problematic that former members of Congress chose to be lobbyists. Ex-members of Congress shouldn’t be allowed to become lobbyists due to lack of support. A majority of Republicans and Democrats agree with the recommendation to tighten restrictions on lobbying by former members of Congress. Barlcerzak 2017 reports that at least 70% of Democrats, and 81% of Republicans support banning lobbying from top CEOs. Congressmen need to maximize their time and work on relevant legislation in the office as well as lobbying from outside.