Lobbyists and Special Interest Groups in Congress

In the United States Congress there are two houses called the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House of Representatives most of the legislation is done through committees and subcommittees. This is where the influence of lobbyists and special interest groups come into play. 

In the House, representatives often take a bill that is close to being passed and attach a rider which is an attachment to the bill. For example, legislation for healthcare might be close to getting passed when a Congressmen will attach a rider to the bill for funding for his home district. This further causes gridlock in Congress. The attachments and riders are also called pork. Legislation that is passed this way is also called pork barrel legislation. 

When a bill is close to being passed, it must go through lobbyists who state if the bill is good for their own constituents. Bills that don't have enough support of the lobbyists are often doomed to fail. 

Key lobbyists and interest groups include: The Environmental Lobbyists, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Gun Lobby, Labor Lobby, Big Tobacco, Christian Coalition, Hollywood/ Movie Production Association of America, Legal Lobby, Pro-choice Movement, Retired Lobby and the Pharmaceutical Lobby. The Environmental Lobby is responsible for the environment is protected and that policy won't hurt it through factories or dumpings into the ocean. Environmental Groups include Green Peace. Last year they gave around $2 million in Congress to support their cause. The NAACP is responsible for ensuring equal rights of all people, especially African Americans. The latest issues they are fighting for is to make sure that everyone is getting equal pay and treatment in the workforce.