This review of literature identifies the primary writings and research related to how higher education institutions operate government relations offices. These offices are defined by their mission and role of interfacing between institutional needs and officers and public officials. The review first reports the literature related to public perceptions of higher education and how these influence state legislators, and then provides a report of the literature related to how institutions build political and public support. The review then provides a synthesis of these two literature bodies and concludes that the existing literature on governmental relations activities within the realm of higher education is shallow and lacks a strong foundation for understanding and predicting institutional behavior or success. Although the review relies primarily on literature related to government relations offices and efforts, the writings do strongly suggest that institutions can benefit from better educating and aligning their needs and priorities with those of public officials and agendas.