Interest Groups & Lobbying

One of our specialties at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies is the study of lobbying reform in Washington DC. CCPS hosts seminars on lobbying reform efforts. In addition, our scholars and students have produced numerous papers and articles on lobbying reforms and our scholars have been interviewed by various media outlets about lobbying reform. On this page, you will find information on our work in this critical area of study.

Publications by Year

Professor and former CCPS Director James Thurber is working on an analysis of the changes in strategies and tactics of lobbying under the Trump administration. He addresses the following questions: Have there been major changes in lobbying since the election of President Trump? Has President Trump “drained the swamp” of lobbyist influence and special interests? Is he implementing his new code of ethics related to lobbying? What are the major ethical and legal issues associated with the Trump administration and lobbying? What has been the impact of new forms of lobbying and ethical issues under the /trump administration for public policy?

Thurber is also currently working with the OECD on ethics and lobbying reform in the U.S. and OECD nations. He has also focused on analysis of and reforms in the Foreign Agents Registration Act.