The objective of this study is to propose a legal framework in which the representation of interests, or lobbyism, can have a participatory role in parliamentary decision-making processes as a legitimate intermediate power in democratic states based on the rule of law. The focus of the study is thereby on legislative processes in the German parliament.
The study is based on the observation that there does not yet exist a differentiated legal framework for the many facets of interest representation in the German parliamentary legislative process. It is time for an amendment and the specification of standards.
The proposals resulting from this study are, firstly, for the actors on the side of the interest representatives, and secondly for the parliamentary side and/or its members and committees respectively. All the proposals have been evaluated for their judicial feasibility and political expediency.