To Lobby is an attempt to influence or defeat of a piece of legislation, a government action or use of spending by a governing body. Lobby groups may apply their endeavours to the legislatures, where laws are created, but may also utilise the judicial branch to forward their efforts.

In the UK there are key phases to lobbying. There is the pre-drafting stage, when policies are developed into a legislative foundation for a desired approval by appropriate channels. This is followed by the approval stage where draft legislation is debated and voted upon in Parliament. After these stages, those laws that have successfully reached the statue book, still require implementation. It is during these phases that lobbying may occur.

See also:
Lobby Firm