1copyright © 2014 cengage learning. what is an interest group? members share common views and...

What is an Interest Group?What is an Interest Group? Members share common views and Members share common views and

objectives objectives Seek to influence government officials and Seek to influence government officials and

policies to benefit the grouppolicies to benefit the group


The Reasons for Interest Groups The Reasons for Interest Groups ■ Legal and Cultural ReasonsLegal and Cultural Reasons■ Decentralized government Decentralized government

Separation of powersSeparation of powers Government structure provides multiple access Government structure provides multiple access

points for interest-group influencepoints for interest-group influence

■ The Strength of the Party System and The Strength of the Party System and Political IdeologiesPolitical Ideologies


Characteristics of Interest Groups Characteristics of Interest Groups ■ Organizational patterns vary depending on Organizational patterns vary depending on

purpose/mission of the organizationpurpose/mission of the organization Centralized Centralized DecentralizedDecentralized Primarily people from professional and Primarily people from professional and

managerial occupationsmanagerial occupations Decisions made by few membersDecisions made by few members


Economic GroupsEconomic Groups Promote membersPromote members’’ economic interests economic interests Business Groups Business Groups

Most often are trade organizationsMost often are trade organizations Lobby for policies favoring Texas businessLobby for policies favoring Texas business

Labor Groups Labor Groups Support public policies designed to increase Support public policies designed to increase

wages, obtain worker health coverage, promote wages, obtain worker health coverage, promote safe working conditions, and protect the interests safe working conditions, and protect the interests of workersof workers


Professional/Career GroupsProfessional/Career Groups Professional Groups Professional Groups

Organizations of professionals that lobby for Organizations of professionals that lobby for policies beneficial to their memberspolicies beneficial to their members

Government Employee Groups Government Employee Groups Organizations of government employees that Organizations of government employees that

lobby for better working conditions, higher wages, lobby for better working conditions, higher wages, more fringe benefits, better retirement packagesmore fringe benefits, better retirement packages Teachers, public officers and employee groupsTeachers, public officers and employee groups


Social GroupsSocial Groups Racial and Ethnic Groups Racial and Ethnic Groups

Seek to influence decisions affecting racial equality Seek to influence decisions affecting racial equality and eliminating racial discrimination and eliminating racial discrimination

NAACPNAACP Latino groups are the most numerous.Latino groups are the most numerous.

League of United Latin American CitizensLeague of United Latin American Citizens Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

(MALDEF)(MALDEF)


WomenWomen’’s Groupss Groups Engage in lobbying and educational activities Engage in lobbying and educational activities

to promote greater political participation by to promote greater political participation by womenwomen

Texas WomenTexas Women’’s Political Caucuss Political Caucus League of Women Voters of TexasLeague of Women Voters of Texas

Religious-based GroupsReligious-based Groups Lobby for policies promoting religious Lobby for policies promoting religious

interestsinterests Christian Coalition, The Texas Industrial Christian Coalition, The Texas Industrial

Areas FoundationAreas Foundation9Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

Public Interest Groups Public Interest Groups Promote general interests of society rather Promote general interests of society rather

than the narrower private or corporate than the narrower private or corporate interestsinterests

Pursue diverse goals Pursue diverse goals


Texas Power GroupsTexas Power Groups Effective interest groups strongly linked with Effective interest groups strongly linked with

legislators and bureaucrats for the purpose legislators and bureaucrats for the purpose of influencing decision makingof influencing decision making

Business and professional trade associations Business and professional trade associations and labor unionsand labor unions

Maintain links with legislators and Maintain links with legislators and bureaucrats, have been around a long time, bureaucrats, have been around a long time, have headquarters in Austinhave headquarters in Austin


Lobbying Lobbying Communicating with and Communicating with and

attempting to influence attempting to influence government officials on behalf government officials on behalf of special interestsof special interests

Texas ranked second in Texas ranked second in nation in money spent on nation in money spent on lobbying state government lobbying state government

9 to 1 – ratio of lobbyists to 9 to 1 – ratio of lobbyists to legislatorslegislators


Lobbying Lobbying Personal Communication Personal Communication

Communication between lobbyist and legislatorsCommunication between lobbyist and legislators Goal is to inform legislators of the lobbying Goal is to inform legislators of the lobbying

groupgroup’’s position on an issues position on an issue Emphasis on information-based communicationsEmphasis on information-based communications Relationships are formed over time. Relationships are formed over time.


Lobbying Lobbying Favors and Gifts Favors and Gifts

Arrange social gatherings, gift giving, and travel Arrange social gatherings, gift giving, and travel (with limitations) in order to influence lawmakers(with limitations) in order to influence lawmakers

Grassroots Activities Grassroots Activities Mobilizing public support of an issue with use of Mobilizing public support of an issue with use of

political campaign techniques such as political campaign techniques such as commercials, the Internet, social media, etc.commercials, the Internet, social media, etc.


Electioneering Electioneering Active campaigning on behalf of candidate or Active campaigning on behalf of candidate or

an issuean issue Publicizing the political record of incumbent Publicizing the political record of incumbent

candidates candidates Mailing lists, Internet activities, commercials, etc. Mailing lists, Internet activities, commercials, etc. Allow candidates to speak at interest-group Allow candidates to speak at interest-group

eventsevents Public endorsementsPublic endorsements ““Getting out the voteGetting out the vote””


Campaign Financing by Political Action Campaign Financing by Political Action CommitteesCommittees Organizational device used by interest Organizational device used by interest

groups and other groups to raise money for groups and other groups to raise money for campaign contributionscampaign contributions

No Texas limitation on PAC contributions or No Texas limitation on PAC contributions or fundraising (excluding judicial campaigns) fundraising (excluding judicial campaigns)


Bribery and Unethical Practices Bribery and Unethical Practices Most common form is an elected official Most common form is an elected official

agreeing to vote a particular way in agreeing to vote a particular way in exchange for campaign contributions exchange for campaign contributions

Tom DeLay and TRMPACTom DeLay and TRMPAC


Regulation of Interest Group PoliticsRegulation of Interest Group Politics Texas Ethics Commission Texas Ethics Commission

Created to enforce legal standards for lobbyists Created to enforce legal standards for lobbyists and public officials and public officials Registers lobbyists and election candidatesRegisters lobbyists and election candidates Collects sources of campaign contributions on a required Collects sources of campaign contributions on a required

basisbasis Investigates and conducts hearings on ethic complaints Investigates and conducts hearings on ethic complaints

against state officials, state employees, and candidates against state officials, state employees, and candidates


Regulation of Interest Group PoliticsRegulation of Interest Group Politics Corporations and interest groups cannot give Corporations and interest groups cannot give

directly to a campaigns, must create PACsdirectly to a campaigns, must create PACs Soft money directed to state Republican and Soft money directed to state Republican and

Democratic party coffers as Democratic party coffers as ““administrative administrative expensesexpenses””

Citizens United v. Federal Election Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Commission (2009) (2009)


Interest Group Power and Public PolicyInterest Group Power and Public Policy Political influence of interests groups Political influence of interests groups

determined by:determined by: Sizable membership, good financial resources, Sizable membership, good financial resources,

good leadership, high degree of unity, well good leadership, high degree of unity, well represented in the government structure, the represented in the government structure, the socioeconomic conditions in the statesocioeconomic conditions in the state

Pinpointing Political PowerPinpointing Political Power


1.1. Explain what interest groups are, why Explain what interest groups are, why they form, and that their essential they form, and that their essential characteristics are.characteristics are.

2.2. Describe the types of interest groups and Describe the types of interest groups and analyze the qualities of a powerful analyze the qualities of a powerful interest group. interest group.


3.3. Evaluate the kinds of activities that Evaluate the kinds of activities that interest groups use to influence Texas interest groups use to influence Texas government.government.

4.4. Analyze how interest groups are Analyze how interest groups are regulated and evaluate the effectiveness regulated and evaluate the effectiveness of these laws. of these laws.


1.1. True or False: All interest groups have True or False: All interest groups have one objective in common: to promote one objective in common: to promote their self-interest.their self-interest.

2.2. Which are generally more powerful in Which are generally more powerful in Texas, business interest groups or labor Texas, business interest groups or labor groups?groups?

3.3. True or False: LULAC is considered to True or False: LULAC is considered to be the oldest interest group dedicated to be the oldest interest group dedicated to the interests and rights of Latinos in the the interests and rights of Latinos in the United States. United States.


1.1. Name two techniques lobbyists use to Name two techniques lobbyists use to influence legislators.influence legislators.

2.2. Does Texas place limits on Does Texas place limits on PAC PAC contributions, as the federal government contributions, as the federal government does?does?

3.3. True or False: At present, Texas forbids True or False: At present, Texas forbids corporations to contribute campaign corporations to contribute campaign funds directly to state candidates.funds directly to state candidates.


1.1. True or False: Texas's campaign finance laws True or False: Texas's campaign finance laws often involve public disclosure by public officials often involve public disclosure by public officials and lobbyists.and lobbyists.

2.2. True or False: The Texas Ethics Commission is True or False: The Texas Ethics Commission is the primary state agency regulating political the primary state agency regulating political contributions and expenditures by lobbyists and contributions and expenditures by lobbyists and public officials.public officials.

3.3. True or False: A campaign contribution accepted True or False: A campaign contribution accepted by a public official with an agreement to act in by a public official with an agreement to act in the contributorthe contributor’’s interest is against the law.s interest is against the law.


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