Lobbying as the Act of Trying to Influence Decisions of Legislation Power - Coursework Example

Elected government officials must serve the public (the people who elected them). However, lobbying comes in when such officials stand to benefit by twisting the law to favor the interests of a few private parties. Government officials are agents of people and, therefore, their failure to serve the public due to their conflict of interest is agent misdirection. As such, lobbying makes sure that others’ interests get appropriate defense against those of corrupt persons.

Lobbyists also ensure that the interests of the minority get a fair defense against the tyranny of the majority (Morris, Goldsworthy & Palgrave, 2008). For instance, a medical association can lobby a legislature to increase restrictions in the laws that prevent smoking due to the increased number of people dying from smoking effects. The complexity of the process of legislation makes lobbyists and lobbying an essential facet of all functions of the government. Government officials and legislators do not have the time as well as the knowledge to become experts on all issues of concern to all people to serve their common interest.

In this regard, lobbyists educate government officials on these issues, help legislators to draft legislation, and advise the president before signing a bill into law. Therefore, lobbyists represent a vast diversity of public interests and beliefs in society. In some societies, lobbyists are respected as opinion leaders who tend to influence the public on which persons to vote for, during elections (Great Britain & Allen, 2012).