These political pioneers date back to the 50s. More than 50,000 public elections are held in the United States each year. Add to that number the selection of elected leaders for private, professional, academic, business, labor, public interest, and other organized bodies, as well as public votes on local and state referenda, initiatives, and constitutional amendments, and the tally skyrockets to over 500,000 elections annually. Indeed, this business is growing by leaps and bounds. More than a billion dollars is spent yearly on campaign communication.
Political consultants can do everything or specialize in one specific service.
General services include overall strategic expertise, whereas specialist services include such diverse talents as survey research, television or radio production and placement, telemarketing, direct mail, fund raising, media relations, computer use, and a host of additional forms of expertise. In addition, a growing number of corporations, public interest groups, labor and other entities interested in public policy are hiring political consultants as members of their public relations, public affairs, or advocacy teams. Only a handful of people attended the first meeting at Lincoln Center in New York City. D.C. The American Association of Political Consultants maintains a Code of Professional Ethics for members. Applicants for AAPC membership are required to sign the code, and to live by the standards it sets, as a condition of membership in the organization.