Ch5 - Interest Groups in TX Politics

Question 1

Interest groups

Answer 1

collections of individuals who share a common set of ideas or principles and who attempt to advance those ideas or principles by influencing public-policy makers

Question 2

Lobbying

Answer 2

The process of working to influence the actions of the government through interaction with the legislative, executive and judicial branches

Question 3

What is the difference between interest groups and other organizations?

Answer 3

Interest groups are organized and funded efforts with the specific purpose of political influence

Question 4

Differences between Interest Groups and Political Parties

Answer 4

Interest Groups are…
1. Narrower in focus
2. Advocate for gov policies
3. Take positions on a limited range of issues
4. Stopping laws and regulations> make the government to do something.

Question 5

Pros of Interest Groups

Answer 5

They speak for voters on a variety of issues and help call attention to the needs of various groups

Question 6

Cons of Interest Groups

Answer 6

Interest groups with more sources have more advantage

Question 7

What is the simple way to divide interest groups

Answer 7

Whether or not their members seek personal economic gain from the membership

Question 8

Economic Interest groups

Answer 8

groups whose main purpose is to bring economic benefit to their members

Question 9

Examples of economic groups

Answer 9

Employee organizations (public and private
Business IGs
Labor IGs

Ethic, gender, and age-based

Question 10

Public interest groups

Answer 10

Lobby for issues that don’t bring direct economic benefit to their members

Question 11

Examples of pubic interest groups

Answer 11

Animal rights groups
Environmental groups

Question 12

Single-issue groups

Answer 12

IGs, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), that devote their energies to pursuing a single, narrowly defined political goal.

Many public IGs are single-issue groups

Question 13

How often does Texas legislature meets?

Answer 13

140 days every other year

Question 14

How IGs achieve their goals?

Answer 14

1. Lobbying
2. Campaign contributions
3. Litigation

Question 15

Lobbyists

Answer 15

People who work on behalf of an IG & who serve as point of contact between the group and policy makers

Question 16

What is the most important asset of a lobbyist?

Answer 16

Information

Question 17

What are methods of a lobbyist?

Answer 17

1. Personal contact with an individual legislator
2. Target executive leaders
3. Appear at public hearing of various boards
4. Target legislative aide

Question 18

What is the job of a lobbyist?

Answer 18

To make the job of a legislator easier

Question 19

Limitations on lobbyists

Answer 19

Few and difficult to enforce.

Register with the state if involved in direct communication with the legislative or executive branch
- Applies only to people who receive >1K/quarter for their activities or spend >500/quarter to provide food for officials

Detailed reporting of expenditures only must be disclosed if a lobbyist spends >114 per recipient

Question 20

Interim Oversight

Answer 20

Various actions by an IG aimed at protecting its gains and promoting its goals between sessions of legislature

Question 21

Becoming a Lobbyist

Answer 21

1. Become a legislator
2. Serve on a legislator’s staff
3. Become an attorney

Question 22

Hired guns

Answer 22

Professional outside lobbyists employed by an interest group to represent its interests on a particular issue. The relationship lasts until the issue is settled.

Question 23

Litigation

Answer 23

Especially valuable to civil rights groups
Last resort in the past
Many IGs today keep a team of attorneys on hand, willing to litigate matters early.

Question 24

Membership mobilization

Answer 24

The act of enlisting the rank-and-file members of an IG in attempting to sway policy makers; often includes massive letter-writing and email efforts and may also include marches and demonstrations.

Question 25

What are the two key assets an interest groups provides to candidates?

Answer 25

1. Information
2. Campaign contributions

Question 26

Can interest groups make campaign contributions during session?

Answer 26

No

Question 27

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Answer 27

a voluntary association of individuals who band together for the purpose of raising and distributing money for political campaigns

Question 28

Do PACs have limits on campaign contributions?

Answer 28

No

Question 29

Can businesses, labor unions and other organizations make direct contributions to candidates?

Answer 29

No, so they form PACs

Question 30

Access

Answer 30

the ability of an interest group to contact policy makers in an attempt to enlist their help; is crucial for w/o it the Interest group’s info is useless

Question 31

What is an Iron Triangle?

Answer 31

The coalition formed among IGs, the legislature, and gov departments that accounts for the creation of public policy in Texas.

Each group gives something to another groups and expects the return of the favor.