Each week , we tell the story of words and expressions used in American English . Some of them are old . Some are new . Together , they form the living and always changing language of the American people . In the United States during an election , voters go to the polls to cast their votes . When deciding on which candidate to support , voters consider many things . They also consider from whom the candidate receives money or campaign donations . It's a political word : “lobby .” “Lobbying ” is an attempt to influence a legislator's vote on a bill . Lobbying has been a legal activity since the earliest days of the United States . The right of the people to petition the government has led to lobbying . Lobbying is a type of free speech . English speakers have used the word “lobby ” for almost 400 years . The lobby was the large room next to the House of Commons in the British Parliament . The lobby was a public area where private citizens could meet with legislators to make requests . So , people who met in the lobby with legislators were called “lobbyists .” Besides politics , a lobby is also part of many large buildings . Many apartment buildings and hotels have lobbies . You also can meet your friends in the lobby of a theater or concert hall during the intermission of a performance . This , however , does not make you a lobbyist . During the early years of the United States , lobbyists had a bad name . There were many cases of lobbyists buying the votes of lawmakers . They were seen by the public as dishonest people who influenced legislation illegally for their own private gain . In later years , Congress and state legislatures passed laws to restrict dishonest lobbying activities . Lobbyists must register with the government and they must follow many complex regulations . Legislators and the public began to recognize the value of the job done by honest lobbyists . There are many honest lobbyists who try to influence legislation . Lobbyists and lobby groups have an active part in making laws . Lobbyists help inform Congress and the public about problems and issues . Lobbyists provide technical information about legislative proposals . And lobbyists let lawmakers know whom a bill would help and whom it would hurt . These special interest groups all lobby Congress . A lobbyist represents a group and tries to advance its interests . When a bill is proposed that affects that group , a lobbyist meets with lawmakers to explain the group's position . There are so many lobbyists that almost every side of an issue is represented . However , other experts don't agree . They claim the number of lobbyists actively lobbying the U.S . government is actually growing . However , to avoid the lobby registration system and regulations these lobbyists have gone underground -- or they do their lobbying out of public view . This does not help their public image .