Lobbying in The United States - History of Lobbying

History of Lobbying

The Constitution was crafted to solve the problem of special interests by having factions compete. It protected free speech, including the right to petition the government. Throughout the nation's history, there has been lobbying at every level of government, particularly in state governments during the nineteenth century, but increasingly in the federal government in the twentieth century. The last few decades has been marked by an exponential increase in lobbying activity and expenditures.