TX Chapter 12: Interest Groups and Lobbying in TX

astroturf organization

a political term for an interest group that appears to have many grassroots members but in fact does not have individual citizens as members; rather, it is sponsored by an organization such as a corporation or business association

capture

the 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, such as those related to wages, working hours, and safety

electioneering

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

fragmented government structure

a government structure where power is dispersed to many state agencies with little or no central control

geographic distribution

a 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; also called SLIGs, for state and local interest groups

interest group

an organization of individuals sharing common goals that tries to influence government decisions

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

the oldest organization representing Latinos in Texas, established in 1929

lobbying

the practice of trying to influence members of the legislature, originally by catching legislators in the lobby of the Capitol

membership organizations

interest groups that have individual citizens or businesses as members

nonmembership organizations

interest groups that represent corporations and businesses and do not have broad-based citizen support

peak business association

an interest group devoted to statewide business interests

political action committee (PACs)

a spin-off of an interest group that collects money for campaign contributions and other activities

professional associations

organizations promoting the interests of individuals who generally must hold a state-issued license to engage in their profession

rent seeking

the practice of trying to secure benefits for oneself or one’s group through political means

retail trade associations

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

right-to-work laws

legislation stipulating that a person cannot be denied employment because of membership or non-membership in a labor union or other labor organization

state and local interest groups (SLIGs)

interest groups that represent state and local governments, such as the Texas Association of Counties

Texas Ethics Commission

state agency responsible for enforcing requirements for interest groups and candidates for public office to report information on money collected and activities

trade associations

interest groups that represent more specific business interests than peak business associations do