Discuss lobbying and identify tactics used by lobbyists to communicate with and influence policy makers.

What will be an ideal response?

Interest groups hire professionals to lobby, or communicate directly with and attempt to influence, policymakers on the interest groups' behalf. Lobbyists are often lawyers, and their job is to cultivate ongoing relationships with federal policymakers. They do their work through face-to-face meetings, telephone calls, "buttonholing" members of Congress as they walk through the Capitol, and hosting special events and functions.