TEXAS GOVERNMENT
2306
UNIT 5
INTEREST GROUPS
What is an Interest Group?
Collections of individuals with shared
interests who have organized to
influence government decision makers;
Interest groups employ lobbyists to
express their values to public officials
Constitutional
Guarantees
Constitutional
Guarantees
Peaceful assembly for political
expression is protected by:
The Texas constitution (Art.1, sec.
27);
The U.S. Constitution (the 1st
Amendment)
What Interest Groups Do
Influence all branches of government at all
levels to produce policies favorable to
members
Block policies that might be harmful to
members
Draw selected citizens into political
participation to influence public policies
Types of Interest Groups
Economic (includes businesses,
professions, education, local government,
agriculture, and labor)
Noneconomic (environmental and political
reformers, patriotic and civic groups)
Mixed (groups that pursue both economic
and social goals)
Examples of Interest
Groups
TECHNIQUES TO
INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT
1. ELECTIONEERING
2. LOBBYING
3. PERSUASION-PUBLIC OPINION -Media Campaign
4. INFLUENCE APPOINTMENT OF SYMPATHETIC
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
5. LITIGATION
6. DIRECT ACTION
7. ILLEGALITIES
Electioneering
Campaign Donations
Federal law
PAC limits
Individual limits
Texas law-no limits
Endorsements
Volunteer Workers
Why the first tactic chosen?
Lobbying
Face to face contact
Verbal or written persuasion
Examples
Pros and Cons
Registered Lobbyists - 1991
Numbered of Registered
Lobbyists-- 2002
Email Action Alert
Persuasion of Public
Opinion
A media campaign
TV, radio, newspapers, magazines
Emails
Letters to the editor
Movies
Speakers
Pros and Cons
Letter to the Editor
Example – Monitoring Letters
Letter to the Editor-Guidelines
INFLUENCE APPOINTMENT OF
SYMPATHETIC GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS
National Level-President & top advisors
State Level-Governor & top officials
Local Level-Mayor, City Manager, School
Board
What is needed to effectively use?
Litigation
Filing lawsuit
Need a legal issue & must have standing
Filing friend of the court brief (amicus
curie)
Advantages and Disadvantages
Direct Action
Peaceful Protest
Civil Disobedience
Examples
Protected by 1st Amendment
Pros and Cons
Illegalities
Any actions that are illegal & violate the
law
Examples
Types of groups using this
Pros and Cons
Which Interests are
Powerful?
The Texas Trial Lawyers’
Association
Texas Medical Association
Texas Realtors’ Association
Texas State Teachers’
Association
Mid-Continent Oil and Gas
Association
Others:
Texas AFL-CIO
Texas Municipal League
Environmental Factors Affecting
Interest Group Strength
Diversity of State Economic Environment
Resources Available To The Legislature - 3 s’s
-Salary, Session, Staff
Resources Available To The Governor
-Weak Or Strong Powers
Level Of Political Participation
- Voting Turnout
Level Of Political Party Competition
One-Party Or 2-Party State
Legal Framework (Constitution & Laws)
Institutional Framework (Bureaucratic Structure)
Strong executive or weak executive
Lobby Regulation in Texas
1957 LOBBY CONTROL ACT
APLLIED TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ONLY
APPLIED ONLY DURING LEGISLATIVE
SESSIONS
1
Lobby Regulation in Texas
LOBBY CONTROL ACT OF 1973
Anyone must register who:
Lobbies as Lobbies executive & legislative branches
a regular part of their job
Spends $200 in a calendar quarter (3 months) to
influence government
LOOPHOLE : No enforcement agency
2
State Lobby Regulation
Advantages & Disadvantages
of Interest Groups