TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306

1. TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306 UNIT 5 INTEREST GROUPS

2. What is an Interest Group? • Collections of individuals with shared interests who have organized to influence government decision makers; • Interest groups employ lobbyists to express their values to public officials

3. Constitutional Guarantees

4. What Interest Groups Do • Influence all branches of government at all levels to produce policies favorable to members • Block policies that might be harmful to members • Draw selected citizens into political participation to influence public policies

5. Types of Interest Groups • Economic (includes businesses, professions, education, local government, agriculture, and labor) • Noneconomic (environmental and political reformers, patriotic and civic groups) • Mixed (groups that pursue both economic and social goals)

6. Examples of Interest Groups

7. TECHNIQUES TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT • 1.ELECTIONEERING • 2.  LOBBYING • 3.  PERSUASION-PUBLIC OPINION -Media Campaign • 4.  INFLUENCE APPOINTMENT OF SYMPATHETIC GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS • 5.  LITIGATION • 6.  DIRECT ACTION • 7.  ILLEGALITIES

8. Electioneering • Campaign Donations • Federal law • PAC limits • Individual limits • Texas law-no limits • Endorsements • Volunteer Workers • Why the first tactic chosen?

9. Lobbying • Face to face contact • Verbal or written persuasion • Examples • Pros and Cons

10. Registered Lobbyists - 1991

11. Numbered of Registered Lobbyists-- 2002

12. Email Action Alert

13. Persuasion of Public Opinion • A media campaign • TV, radio, newspapers, magazines • Emails • Letters to the editor • Movies • Speakers • Pros and Cons

14. Letter to the Editor

15. Example – Monitoring Letters

16. Letter to the Editor-Guidelines

17. INFLUENCE APPOINTMENT OF SYMPATHETIC GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS • National Level-President & top advisors • State Level-Governor & top officials • Local Level-Mayor, City Manager, School Board • What is needed to effectively use?

18. Litigation • Filing lawsuit • Need a legal issue & must have standing • Filing friend of the court brief (amicus curie) • Advantages and Disadvantages

19. Direct Action • Peaceful Protest • Civil Disobedience • Examples • Protected by 1st Amendment • Pros and Cons

20. Illegalities • Any actions that are illegal & violate the law • Examples • Types of groups using this • Pros and Cons

21. Which Interests are Powerful? • The Texas Trial Lawyers’ Association • Texas Medical Association • Texas Realtors’ Association • Texas State Teachers’ Association • Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association • Others: • Texas AFL-CIO • Texas Municipal League

22. Environmental Factors Affecting Interest Group Strength • Diversity of State Economic Environment •  Resources Available To The Legislature - 3 s’s • -Salary, Session, Staff •  Resources Available To The Governor • -Weak Or Strong Powers •   Level Of Political Participation • - Voting Turnout • Level Of Political Party Competition • One-Party Or 2-Party State •  Legal Framework (Constitution & Laws) •    Institutional Framework (Bureaucratic Structure) • Strong executive or weak executive

23. Lobby Regulation in Texas1 • 1957 LOBBY CONTROL ACT • APLLIED TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ONLY • APPLIED ONLY DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS

24. Lobby Regulation in Texas2 LOBBY CONTROL ACT OF 1973 • Anyone must register who: • Lobbies as Lobbies executive & legislative branches • a regular part of their job • Spends $200 in a calendar quarter (3 months) to influence government • LOOPHOLE : No enforcement agency

25. State Lobby Regulation

26. Advantages & Disadvantages of Interest Groups