Texas Politics Today, 11th Edition

1. Texas Politics Today, 11th Edition Chapter 5 Interest Groups

2. Interest Group Meaning of an Interest Group Influencing Government (directly) Influencing Government (indirectly) Support of Interest Groups Factors of Interest Group Power Lobbying (Regulation, Craft)

3. Meaning of an Interest Group Definition: volunteer organization designed to create awareness of a specific issue Examples include NAACP, NRA, NORML, LULAC, TBA, and AMA. They sway politics by influencing the voters to sympathize with their views and by arranging meetings with elected officials to discuss their views.

4. Direct Government Influence Lobbying Legislative and Executive Branches Contact with these groups to influence a policy decision. Legislative branch gives discretion to executive branch, allowing policy to be set, and also allowing interest groups to influence the executive branch. Filing Suit in Court Less expensive than influencing legislature More favorable interpretation of the law than by going through enforcing agency To delay implementation of rules or law Constitutional challenge if the political battle was lost

5. Direct Government Influence Advising and Serving the State Government-appointed boards must include members from professions of the issue at hand. These people exercise power as state officials, and are often members of interest groups. Co-optation: blurring of lines between involvement in state politics and interest groups Public Demonstrations Marches and demonstrations are used to create publicity for their issue. This pressures the state in their favor.

6. Indirect Government Influence Electioneering Endorsement of a sympathetic candidate outside the interest group PAC gives donations to candidates for campaigning Educating the Public Public relations used to build positive reputations for their organization and those the organization supports Socializing Lobbyists invite public officials to establish positive relationships and connections Access to public officials is the key to influencing public decisions Public demonstrations not required if a friendship is built with public officials

7. Support of Interest Groups Joining Interest Groups Most joiners lack status, knowledge, political skills, and money to be independently pursuing their goals Career and social goals are also advanced due to the network created between people of similar interests Provides source of information within a field of profession

8. Interest Group Support Types of Interest Groups Economic: business and professions seeking advantages for its members. Advocates of decentralization of state government. Pro-labor. Noneconomic: seek betterment of society as a whole, including environmentalists, political reformers, and patriotic and civil groups Mixed: advocates of social equality, anti-discrimination groups

9. Factors of Interest Group Power Party Competition: strong party competition usually means weak interest groups, since parties have to appeal to the majority of population to be successful. The parties have to tackle major goals and issues for success, which reduces the need for interest groups to bring light to these issues. Decentralization of Executive Branch Power: Executive power fragmented between political offices and commissions, increasing the vulnerability of these officials and commissions to the power of interest groups. May result in little regard for public interest.

10. Factors Law: Laws regulate the relationship between officials and interest groups The Media: broadcasts the actions of elected officials and transfers mood of general public back to those officials. The media promotes open meetings and records to destroy corruption Constituent Influence: Representatives always have to answer to those who elect them, so they must follow their needs and opinions. The struggle for influence comes when the region has no general consensus.

11. Factors Interest Groups Checking Interest Groups: On major issues, many interest groups cancel out the influence of others. On smaller issues, the competition is less, or nonexistent, balancing the scheme of influence. Campaign Contributions: corporations and political action committees influence nominated candidates to gain their favor should they win office. The reason is reciprocation once the official is elected.

12. Lobbying and Regulation Registration and Report of Lobbying Costs: This is required if the donors are reimbursed for their expenses by another lobbyist, including organizations who donate more than a certain amount to a candidate. Individual volunteers are not registered unless they spend over a quota. What a Lobbyist Must Report: to whom he/she lobbies for, information about clients and employers, the policy area concerned, compensation and reimbursement categories, and name and information of anyone who assisted through direct contact with public officials. These reports are available to the public.

13. The Craft of Lobbying To the Legislature: lobbyists must learn who is taking what sides and who is undecided, memorize the faces and information of these members, and know the legislative issues at hand. Then, they must build a friendship among these people, and grant them recognition. To Administrative Agencies: Lobbyists read the Texas Register to hear about upcoming announcements, then mobilize. Those in charge of administration use their clientele, who can influence the agency. To the Courts: Groups can influence judicial decisions through campaign contributions as state judges run for election. This weakens a judge’s impartiality.

14. Power Within Interests The large interest groups are the most noted by those in politics. Interest power is determined by how much public officials need the group. 2/3 of registered groups represent business. Umbrella organizations, massive junctions of corporations of similar views, help lobbyists with influence. Media’s viewpoint sways population, which sways the elected representatives.