Texas Government Chapter 12 Vocab

Astroturf Organization

Political term for interest group that appears to have many grassroot members but in fact doesn't have individual citizens as members; rather its sponsored by an organizati

Capture

Situation in which a state agency or board falls under the heavy influence of or is controlled by its constituency interest groups

Collective Bargaining

Negotiations between an employer and a group of employees to determine employment conditions

Electioneering

Various activities in which interest groups engage to try to influence the outcome of elections

Fragmented Government Structure

Government structure where power is dispersed to many state agencies with little to no central control

Geographic Distribution

Characteristic of some interest groups in that they have members in all regions of the state

Government Organizations

Interest groups that represent state and local governments; SLIG's

Interest Group

Organization of individuals sharing common goals that tries to influence government decisions

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

Oldest organization representing Latinos in TX

Lobbying

Trying to influence members of the legislature

Membership Organizations

Interest groups w/ individual citizens and businesses as members

Nonmembership Organizations

Interest groups that represent corporations and businesses, don't have citizen based support

Peak Business Association

Interest group devoted to statewide business interests

Political Action Committee

Spin-off of interest group that collects money for campaign contributions and other activities

Professional Associations

Organization that promotes interests of individuals who generally must hold a state- issued license to engage in their profession

Rent seeking

Practice of trying to secure benefits for oneself or one's group through political means

Retail Trade Association

Organization seeking to protect and promote the interests of member businesses involved in the sales of goods and services

Right-to-work Laws

Person can't be denied employment because of membership or nonmembership in a labor union organization

State and Local Interest Groups (SLIG)

Represents state and local governments

Texas Ethics Commission

State agency responsible for enforcing requirments for interest groups and candidates for public office to report info. on money collected and activities

Trade Association

Interest group that represent more specific business interests than peak business associations