What changes have occurred in the lobbying environment over the past three or four decades?

1. There is more professional lobbying.

2. Many interests lobby both the national government and the states.

3. A fragmentation of interests has taken place.

Explanation:

Lobbying in the United States describes paid activity in which special interests hire well-connected professional advocates, often lawyers, to argue for specific legislation in decision-making bodies such as the United States Congress. If lobbying were merely persuasion by hired professionals, it would pose no great threat of corruption. But behind the "persuasion" is the checkbook and the chance to buy political favors with legal contributions, which are claimed to have no effect on legislation or policy, but no sane person believes that corporations, through lobbyists give money to politicians, in exchange for nothing.