SECTION: What is the FCP all about

LEVEL 2 SECTION: What does substantial mean?

LEVEL 3 SECTION: What about lobbying?

LEVEL 4 SECTION: How did petitioning evolve?

YOU WERE READING:

...has become largely the domain of professional lobbyists.

WHERE DOES THE TERM LOBBYIST COME FROM?

The term “lobbyist” owes its origin to US President Ulysses S. Grant. During Grant’s first term as President, his wife disapproved of his drinking, so Grant would regularly slip out of the White House and visit the lounge at the nearby Willard Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. Grant’s visits to the Willard Hotel soon became common knowledge. Those wishing to catch a minute or two with the President to petition their causes would collect in the hotel lobby to corner Grant as he went to and from the lounge. Frustrated by the ever-growing crowd of petitioners, Grant frequently complained of the “lobbyists” who would get in his way.