Why is lobbying legal in the US?

It's usually legal and hard to prosecute. If it can be proven to be bribery, either lobbyist or office holder, or both, may be tried and punished. read more

In the U.S., the right to lobby is protected by both the 1 st Amendment and the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, and additionally by the inherent need for participation in our democratic environment. The legal framework in support of lobbying notwithstanding, lobbying should continue to play a role because of its many benefits. read more

A study in 2001 which compared lobbying activity in US-style congressional against European-style parliamentary systems, found that in congressional systems there was an advantage favoring the "agenda-setters", but that in both systems, "lobbying has a marked effect on policies". read more