TX Chapter 10

Question 1

Astroturf

Answer 1

A political term for an interest group that appears to have many grassroots members, but in fact does not have any active members

Question 2

Capture

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Collective bargaining

Answer 3

Negotiations between an employer and a group of employees to determine employment conditions, such as those related to wages, working hours, and safety

Question 4

Electioneering

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Fragmented government structure

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Geographic distribution

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Government organizations

Answer 7

Interest groups that represent state and local governments; called SLIGs, for state and local interest groups

Question 8

Interest group

Answer 8

An organization of individuals sharing common goals that tries to influence governmental decisions

Question 9

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

Answer 9

Largest organization representing Latinos in Texas

Question 10

Lobbying

Answer 10

The practice of attempting to influence the legislature, originally by catching members in the lobby of the capitol

Question 11

Membership organizations

Answer 11

Interest groups that have individual citizens or businesses as members, such as the National Rifle Association

Question 12

Nonmembership organizations

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Peak business organizations

Answer 13

Interest groups that represent statewide business interests

Question 14

Political action committee (PAC)

Answer 14

Spin-offs of interest groups that collect money for campaign contributions and other activity

Question 15

Professional associations

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Rent seeking

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Retail trade associations

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Right-to-work laws

Answer 18

Legislation stipulating that a person cannot be denied employment because of membership or nonmembership in a labor union or other labor organization

Question 19

State and local interest groups (SLIGs)

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Texas Ethics Commission

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Trade associations

Answer 21

Interest groups that represent more specific business interests