Final answer:
The technique used is issue advocacy, where ads discuss issues connected to candidates without explicit endorsements. It can also involve shaping public opinion, which together with issue advocacy, influences legislator behavior despite efforts like the McCain-Feingold Act to regulate such influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lobbying technique used in the scenario where a civil society group has identified seven members of Congress who always vote against political finance control, is known as issue advocacy advertising or campaigning. This is when organizations finance advertisements that focus on issues or policies linked to specific candidates without explicitly instructing the audience whom to vote for. Such advertising often shows support or disapproval for a candidate's position without direct endorsement.
In the case of 'The Corrupt Seven', the media's branding of the members of Congress could be seen as a form of public pressure or indirect lobbying. This technique relies on shaping public opinion to influence lawmakers' actions. It can be combined with the aforementioned issue advocacy techniques to create a narrative that sways both public perception and subsequent legislative behavior.
Lobbyists and interest groups are known to provide legislative agenda-setting services, drafting legislation for lawmakers, and contributing to campaigns, particularly for incumbents who have a say in policy areas relevant to these groups. Despite attempts at reform, such as the McCain-Feingold Act, new methods often emerge that circumvent these regulations, highlighting the complexity of campaign finance and political influence in Congress.