SCOTT H. AINSWORTH
The Role of Legislators in the Determination
of Interest Group Influence
Legislative Studies Quarterly XXII:517-33
In addition to structuring the rules governing legislator-lobbyist
interactions, legislators also affect their interactions with lobbyists by promoting
lobbying enterprises, which are groups of like-minded lobbyists and their legislative
allies, all of whom seek to coordinate their efforts. The long-term relationships inherent
in lobbying enterprises reduce uncertainties, insure ready access to legislators, and
allow lobbyists to reach undecided legislators indirectly. Lobbying enterprises complement
staff systems, the committee system, and members' constituent contact committees. This
article concludes with specific suggestions for incorporating concepts developed here into
empirical and formal theoretic work on lobbying influence.