Lobbying

Lobbying is a process, usually by persons who are not elected officials, intended to influence the policy of a government or the voting in a legislature. Contrary to some popular opinion, lobbying is not synonymous with bribery, but often is a process of informing the official being lobbied why the lobbyist's view is desirable.

Professional lobbyists have come into disrepute in some countries. There have been various conflict of interest rules, but, in countries including the State of Israel and the United States, there are new initiatives to regulate lobbying.