Lobby Before the Constitutional Court in Chile, 2006-2020

Abstract

This paper analyzes the participation of Interest Groups (IG) in the cases brought before the Constitutional Court of Chile. Based on evidence from 436 cases tracked between 2006 and 2020, we examine the overall volume of this participation, the areas in which it is developed, and the interests that are most represented. It is argued that: a) the participation of IG in the Court's decisions is generally low; b) that the distribution of participation between types of groups is balanced; c) that it concentrates more on matters of civil and political rights, and d) that the interest groups that represent more restricted interests participate more in discussions of an economic nature, and that those that preferentially defend general interests concentrate on civil and political rights processes. In contrast to the United States, Chile has a much lower level of lobbying activity.