Chamber of comerce

A chamber of commerce (also referred to in some circles as a board of trade) is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests ofbusinesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community. Local businesses are members, and they elect a board of directors or executivecouncil to set policy for the chamber. The board or council then hires a President, CEO or Executive Director, plus staffing appropriate to size, to run the organization. The United States Chamber ofCommerce (USCC) is an American lobbying group representing the interests of many businesses and trade associations. It is not an agency of the United States government. The Chamber is staffed with policyspecialists, lobbyists and lawyers. Lobbying in the United States targets the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and state legislatures. Lobbyists may also representtheir clients' or organizations' interests in dealings with federal, state, or local executive branch agencies or the courts. Lobby groups and their members sometimes also write legislation and whipbills. As of 2007 there are over 17,000 federal lobbyists based in Washington, DC. Lobbyists use their time both with legislators, to explain the issues of the organizations which they represent, and withtheir clients to explain the obstacles elected officials face when dealing with these issues. Many of these lobbyists are employed by lobbying firms or by law firms, which retain clients outsidelobbying, other lobbyists are employed directly by advocacy groups, trade associations, companies, and state and local governments. The Chamber is one of the largest lobbying groups in the U.S., spendingmore money than any other lobbying organization on a yearly basis. The Chamber was created by President Taft as a counterbalance to the labor movement of the time. The US Chamber is different from...