A Fortune magazine survey found that the clout of the most effective lobbying organizations working the nation’s capital springs from the “sincere support they get from voters back home.”
A similar survey of statehouse lobbying would find similar results. The Fortune survey affirmed that access to legislators in the corridors of Congress (and the state capitols) isn’t the only key to the kingdom. The ultimate source of influencing legislators comes from lobbying them where they live.
Actually, the game of making laws is played on two courts simultaneously: (1) in the capitols where issues are debated and voted on, and (2) in the districts where legislators live and are voted for.
Direct and indirect lobbying
Lobbying at the capitol is called direct lobbying, or on-the-spot lobbying. Lobbying at the grassroots is called indirect lobbying. ...
Direct lobbying is overt and emphasizes direct access to legislators at the Capitol. Indirect lobbying isn’t necessarily undercover, but it is less overt, and it can be the most effective.
[More in the book.]
