How does lobbying work?

[summertime87]

I'm going to work for some lobbyists in Tallahassee in January, and I have no idea what they do exactly. My idea is they try to make changes in laws or whatnot for specific groups of people (?) but what is the process for doing so? My legal knowledge is limited to the basics of criminal and civil in Florida. What else do I need to know before I begin this endeavor?

[SHELLY]

I'm going to work for some lobbyists in Tallahassee in January, and I have no idea what they do exactly. My idea is they try to make changes in laws or whatnot for specific groups of people (?) but what is the process for doing so? My legal knowledge is limited to the basics of criminal and civil in Florida. What else do I need to know before I begin this endeavor?

:blink: And the lobbyists hired you....why?


What else do I need to know before I begin this endeavor?

1) Google "What lobbyists do"
2) Get a backup job

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[John R]

i guess someone has to do it. you could add 'selling your soul' into the search field also.

how could you take a job somewhere and not know what the place does?

[ckhagen]

Based on the 87 in her SN... maybe she was born in '87 and will be taking an internship? Doing busywork for a lobbyist group...? You don't have to know much about what they do, that's sort of the point of working for them for free.

Working for a lobbyist should be... at best... interesting.

[SHELLY]

how could you take a job somewhere and not know what the place does?

A better question is....What kind of operation would hire someone who doesn't have even a basic understanding of what it does? (Although it may be a plus if they're subpoenaed to appear before a Congressional Committee).

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[SHELLY]

Based on the 87 in her SN... maybe she was born in '87 and will be taking an internship? Doing busywork for a lobbyist group...? You don't have to know much about what they do, that's sort of the point of working for them for free.


If this was 1980 and the poster was 16, I would say you have a valid point...but if this poster is 20, a college student, and has access to a computer (they did post on this message board), I'd say they'd better crawl out from under their rock and "get smart real quick" if they are going to be working with lobbyists--especially during an election year.


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[LightWorker]

I'm going to work for some lobbyists in Tallahassee in January, and I have no idea what they do exactly. My idea is they try to make changes in laws or whatnot for specific groups of people (?) but what is the process for doing so? My legal knowledge is limited to the basics of criminal and civil in Florida. What else do I need to know before I begin this endeavor?


:welcome:Good luck to you on this adventure.

I hope this opens many doors for you.

[goodwitch58]

I'm going to work for some lobbyists in Tallahassee in January, and I have no idea what they do exactly. My idea is they try to make changes in laws or whatnot for specific groups of people (?) but what is the process for doing so? My legal knowledge is limited to the basics of criminal and civil in Florida. What else do I need to know before I begin this endeavor?


I sure hope you have a back up plan. Tallahassee lobbying is a tough business--I know from experience--and any one who would hire someone as ill informed as you apparently are...well, what can I say? As Shelly said I'd be real concerned about a group that would hire you, and I am appalled that you would take a job without knowing what you're getting into....why would one do that?

Did you not have a political science class in college? or a Civics class in high school? That would have given you the basics of how laws are made; how the Legislative Branch of the Government works; what Advocacy and Public Service are.

Why do you want to work in a field you know nothing about? Even if this is an Internship, I would think you would make more of an effort to learn the basics...more than posting on a community message board! And, I am not sure what it says about a Lobbying Group that hires someone without telling them what they are going to be doing.

[HYDROSTAN]

Good luck in your new job. Maybe you were hired because you have no pre-concieved notions about the job. Hope you enjoy the experience.

[Smiling JOe]

I'm going to work for some lobbyists in Tallahassee in January, and I have no idea what they do exactly. My idea is they try to make changes in laws or whatnot for specific groups of people (?) but what is the process for doing so? My legal knowledge is limited to the basics of criminal and civil in Florida. What else do I need to know before I begin this endeavor?
Since you've already been given the tongue lashing, I'll just try to answer your question. The lobbyists basically court the politicians and their staff. Mostly the staff. Most politicians don't want to bog themselves down in paperwork and reading assignments, so they hire staffers to focus on particular areas. For example, one staffer may devote all of his or her attention to environment and finance. The Congressman or Senator will look to that particular staffer for advice in either of those two fields. Unless a politician has a strong feeling or passion for something, in most cases, he or she will vote accordingly to the advice given by the staffer, or based on promises to other politicians for vote swapping. Anyhoo, these lobbyists often work in the political offices as staffers, before going to the $$$$-paying jobs of the lobbyists. All of the staffers are already on speed-dial and they attend the same social events. (generally speaking). Lobbyists convince the staffers and politicians of the reasons why voting for or against something would benefit the politician.

As for the process of Bills to Law, I'll let you look up that one. I believe there was even a Saturday morning cartoon about it, if you want the cliff notes. You can probably find that on youtube.com. "I'm just a Bill, on Capital Hill..."

[wrobert]

As for the process of Bills to Law, I'll let you look up that one. I believe there was even a Saturday morning cartoon about it, if you want the cliff notes. You can probably find that on youtube.com. "I'm just a Bill, on Capital Hill..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

[WaterCourseWay]

Schoolhouse Rock! The highlight of my school years... :rolling: