Texas Government Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Interest Groups
What is an Interest Group?
An interest group is at its core, an organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to their group’s views. They are also known as “pressure groups”, “special interest groups”, or “lobbies”.
They seek to influence, not to run the government.
Political influence is enhanced when interest groups are well represented in the structure of government.
Intermediaries for those sharing common interests. They may not constitute majority.
They do not seek to get its members elected to public office, they only seek to influence policy makers regardless of party affiliation
The reason for Interest Groups
Legal and Cultural Reasons
NAACP v Alabama (1958)
Alabama sought to obtain the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)'s membership lists, which the organization argued violated their First Amendment rights to free association and assembly. The Court ruled in favor of the NAACP, protecting their membership confidentiality.
Decentralized government allow for increased influence by interest groups.
Why join an interest group?
People join interest groups out of a need to join a professional or occupational group, to associate with like-minded individuals, or to receive information or benefits from the interest group.
Characteristics of Interest Groups
People join for financial, professional, or social reasons. Members of interest groups tend to be professional, educated people working in managerial roles and have resources. Within interest groups, there are active minorities and passive minorities.
Two types of organizational patterns:
Highly Centralized Organizations
Examples: National Rifle Association (NRA)
Decentralized Alliances
Example: Trade Associations
Interest groups can range on a variety of topics from public issues (Education, environment, social justice, morality) to professions/occupations (Health, Law, Education, etc.
Types of Interest Groups
Economic Groups
Business Groups: The most numerous and powerful of all interest groups in Texas.
Texas Gaming Association
Texas Association of Builders
Labor Groups: Advocate for increased wages, including minimum wages, health insurance coverage, unemployment insurance, and safe working conditions.
Texas State Employees Union
AFL-CIO
Professional/Public Employee Groups
Professional Groups
State Bar of Texas
Texas Health Care Association
Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants
Public Officer and Employee Groups
Texas Public Employees Association
Social Groups
Racial and Ethnic Groups
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Women’s Groups
Annie’s List
Religion-based Groups
Christian Coalition
Public Interest Groups
Generally, they promote the general interests of society. Topics include environmental concerns, consumer protection, political participation, and public morality.
Common Cause Texas
Texans for Public Justice
Siera Club
PETA
Human Rights Concerns
Texas Power Groups
Interest groups specific to Texas. The most powerful in the state are business-oriented trade associations, professional associations, and labor unions.
It is common for them to have strong links to legislators and bureaucrats, have “repeat players”, and to have headquarters in Austin (The Capital of Texas)
Interest Group Activities
Lobbying
Interest groups connect with policy makers via personal communication (“Wine and Dine”), giving favors and gifts, and grassroots activities
Electioneering
Electioneering refers to the act of actively campaigning for a candidate or political party during an election. This includes activities such as canvassing, promoting policies, and mobilizing voters to support a specific candidate or cause.
When interest groups electioneer, they may issue advocacy for a certain politician, publicize political records, give them speaking opportunities at meetings, publicly endorse them, or support their campaigns.
Campaign Financing (PACs)
Political Action Committees, or PACs, are organized in order to raise and spend money on candidates. They may use their money to support candidates or to go against candidates.
Texas Ethics Commission regulates lobbying, requiring them to file reports and puts a limit on how much a politician can be given.
Bribery and Unethical Practices
Sharpstown Bank Scandal (1970s)
The Sharpstown Bank Scandal, which emerged in the early 1970s in Texas, involved a complex web of political corruption, banking fraud, and insider trading. It centered around the Sharpstown State Bank and implicated several high-profile politicians, leading to significant reforms in Texas banking laws and a major political fallout, including the resignation of Governor Preston Smith. The scandal highlighted the need for greater transparency and regulation in the financial sector.
Speaker Billy Clayton (1980)
A Conservative Democrat from a rural area of the Texas South Plains, Clayton attained the speakership by successfully forging a broad-based House coalition. He was considered one of the most influential legislators - and, after he left the chamber, lobbyists - in modern Texas history.
Rep. Tom Craddick (2002)
U.S Rep. Tom Delay
Power and Regulation of Interest Group Politics
Interest group politics are regulated by the Texas Ethics Commission and new ethics laws (1991)
These laws prohibit candidates from receiving campaign contributions in the Texas state capitol building.
Each politician campaigning must submit an electronic campaign disclosure report. Donations at the end of a campaign, '“Late Train” donations. Texas election code is weak and difficult to enforce.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) ruled that the government could not restrict independent expenditures (the advocacy or otherwise of a political party or person) for political campaigns by corporations, non profits, labor unions, or other associations.
Texas overturned prohibition against super PACs in 2014
There is an evident relationship between campaign contributions given to a politician or politicians and policy decisions.
How do interest groups have power?
Internal factors like an alignment with broad public beliefs give interest groups power. External factors such as the political culture, relatively weak political parties, and unwieldly constitutions can also give interest groups power.
Pinpointed political power is issue-dependent, but organized interest groups in Texas have advantage over unorganized citizens.
Texas Government Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Interest Groups
What is an Interest Group?
An interest group is at its core, an organization of individuals with similar views that tries to influence government to respond favorably to their group’s views. They are also known as “pressure groups”, “special interest groups”, or “lobbies”.
They seek to influence, not to run the government.
Political influence is enhanced when interest groups are well represented in the structure of government.
Intermediaries for those sharing common interests. They may not constitute majority.
They do not seek to get its members elected to public office, they only seek to influence policy makers regardless of party affiliation
The reason for Interest Groups
Legal and Cultural Reasons
NAACP v Alabama (1958)
Alabama sought to obtain the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)'s membership lists, which the organization argued violated their First Amendment rights to free association and assembly. The Court ruled in favor of the NAACP, protecting their membership confidentiality.
Decentralized government allow for increased influence by interest groups.
Why join an interest group?
People join interest groups out of a need to join a professional or occupational group, to associate with like-minded individuals, or to receive information or benefits from the interest group.
Characteristics of Interest Groups
People join for financial, professional, or social reasons. Members of interest groups tend to be professional, educated people working in managerial roles and have resources. Within interest groups, there are active minorities and passive minorities.
Two types of organizational patterns:
Highly Centralized Organizations
Examples: National Rifle Association (NRA)
Decentralized Alliances
Example: Trade Associations
Interest groups can range on a variety of topics from public issues (Education, environment, social justice, morality) to professions/occupations (Health, Law, Education, etc.
Types of Interest Groups
Economic Groups
Business Groups: The most numerous and powerful of all interest groups in Texas.
Texas Gaming Association
Texas Association of Builders
Labor Groups: Advocate for increased wages, including minimum wages, health insurance coverage, unemployment insurance, and safe working conditions.
Texas State Employees Union
AFL-CIO
Professional/Public Employee Groups
Professional Groups
State Bar of Texas
Texas Health Care Association
Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants
Public Officer and Employee Groups
Texas Public Employees Association
Social Groups
Racial and Ethnic Groups
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Women’s Groups
Annie’s List
Religion-based Groups
Christian Coalition
Public Interest Groups
Generally, they promote the general interests of society. Topics include environmental concerns, consumer protection, political participation, and public morality.
Common Cause Texas
Texans for Public Justice
Siera Club
PETA
Human Rights Concerns
Texas Power Groups
Interest groups specific to Texas. The most powerful in the state are business-oriented trade associations, professional associations, and labor unions.
It is common for them to have strong links to legislators and bureaucrats, have “repeat players”, and to have headquarters in Austin (The Capital of Texas)
Interest Group Activities
Lobbying
Interest groups connect with policy makers via personal communication (“Wine and Dine”), giving favors and gifts, and grassroots activities
Electioneering
Electioneering refers to the act of actively campaigning for a candidate or political party during an election. This includes activities such as canvassing, promoting policies, and mobilizing voters to support a specific candidate or cause.
When interest groups electioneer, they may issue advocacy for a certain politician, publicize political records, give them speaking opportunities at meetings, publicly endorse them, or support their campaigns.
Campaign Financing (PACs)
Political Action Committees, or PACs, are organized in order to raise and spend money on candidates. They may use their money to support candidates or to go against candidates.
Texas Ethics Commission regulates lobbying, requiring them to file reports and puts a limit on how much a politician can be given.
Bribery and Unethical Practices
Sharpstown Bank Scandal (1970s)
The Sharpstown Bank Scandal, which emerged in the early 1970s in Texas, involved a complex web of political corruption, banking fraud, and insider trading. It centered around the Sharpstown State Bank and implicated several high-profile politicians, leading to significant reforms in Texas banking laws and a major political fallout, including the resignation of Governor Preston Smith. The scandal highlighted the need for greater transparency and regulation in the financial sector.
Speaker Billy Clayton (1980)
A Conservative Democrat from a rural area of the Texas South Plains, Clayton attained the speakership by successfully forging a broad-based House coalition. He was considered one of the most influential legislators - and, after he left the chamber, lobbyists - in modern Texas history.
Rep. Tom Craddick (2002)
U.S Rep. Tom Delay
Power and Regulation of Interest Group Politics
Interest group politics are regulated by the Texas Ethics Commission and new ethics laws (1991)
These laws prohibit candidates from receiving campaign contributions in the Texas state capitol building.
Each politician campaigning must submit an electronic campaign disclosure report. Donations at the end of a campaign, '“Late Train” donations. Texas election code is weak and difficult to enforce.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) ruled that the government could not restrict independent expenditures (the advocacy or otherwise of a political party or person) for political campaigns by corporations, non profits, labor unions, or other associations.
Texas overturned prohibition against super PACs in 2014
There is an evident relationship between campaign contributions given to a politician or politicians and policy decisions.
How do interest groups have power?
Internal factors like an alignment with broad public beliefs give interest groups power. External factors such as the political culture, relatively weak political parties, and unwieldly constitutions can also give interest groups power.
Pinpointed political power is issue-dependent, but organized interest groups in Texas have advantage over unorganized citizens.
