What is a Lobbyist?

Last updated: July 2, 2026

A lobbyist is a professional advocate paid to influence government decisions on behalf of businesses, associations, nonprofits, and other organizations by presenting information, arguments, and policy proposals to lawmakers and regulators. Lobbyists cannot pay politicians for votes. Federal law requires them to register and publicly disclose their clients and activity under the Lobbying Disclosure Act.

This advocacy can lead to the proposal of new legislation or the amendment of existing laws and regulations. By understanding the role lobbyists play, you can better sort through what you hear in the media about how decisions get made in Washington.

In 2025, organizations spent a record $5.08 billion on federal lobbying, the first year spending has ever passed $5 billion. Health care organizations alone accounted for four of the ten biggest spenders, and 15,768 organizations reported lobbying activity, a record number.