Chapter 6: Objectives

Interest Groups Organizations whose members share common views and objectives Seek to influence government officials and policies May be identified as a pressure group, special interest group, or lobby

Interest Group v. Political Party Interest groups want to influence public policies and decisions by public officials Political parties want to win elections and control the government

Interest Group Actions Use persuasion to mobilize members and supporters Attempt to sway public opinion Build coalitions with other groups with identical or closely related interests in one or more issues Obtain access to key decision makers Influence elections

Growth of Interest Groups Legal Influence NAACP v. Alabama (1958) right to association Political culture encourages individuals to organize themselves Decentralized government Federalism Separation of powers Government structure provides multiple access points for interest-group influence

Growth of Interest Groups Decentralized political parties A lack of strong, organized political parties can increase influence of interest groups Weak ideologies Weakly developed systems of political, social, and economic beliefs allow for increased interest-group influence

Organization of Interest Groups Organizational patterns vary depending on purpose/mission of the organization Centralized Decentralized Membership and leadership Two-thirds of all Americans belong to at least one group or association Active minority with passive majority

Types of Interest Groups Economic Groups Promote the economic interest, maximize wages, and maximize profits of their members Business Groups Advocate lower taxes, limited government regulation, and minimal concessions to labor unions

Types of Interest Groups Economic Groups Trade Associations Groups that act on behalf of an industry Umbrella Groups Broad type of interest group Labor Groups Support public policies designed to increase wages, obtain worker health coverage, promote safe working conditions, and protect the interests of workers

Types of Interest Groups

Types of Interest Groups Professional Groups Organizations of professionals that lobby for policies beneficial to their members Set standards with government for admission to a profession or an occupation and the licensing of practitioners Government Employee Groups Organizations of state and local government officers and employees to obtain better working conditions, higher wages, benefits, and improved retirement packages

Types of Interest Groups

Types of Interest Groups Social Groups Concerned with social issues, civil rights, racial and ethnic matters, religion, and public interest protections Racial and Ethnic Groups Organizations which seek to influence government decisions affecting racial equality and eliminate racial discrimination

Types of Interest Groups Social Groups Women’s Organizations Engage in lobbying and educational activities to promote greater political participation and parity Religion-Based Groups Interest groups that lobby for policies promoting religious interests

Types of Interest Groups Public Interest Groups Promote the general interests of society rather than the narrower private or corporate interests Pursue diverse goals

Types of Interest Groups

Power Groups Effective interest groups strongly linked with legislators and bureaucrats for the purpose of influencing decision making Maintain strong linkages with legislators and with bureaucrats “Repeat Players” Headquarters in Austin

Interest Group Techniques Lobbying Communicating with and attempting to influence government officials on behalf of an interest group Directed at legislators and lawmaking process Texas ranked second in nation in money spent on lobbying state government 9 to 1 – ration of lobbyists to elected officials in Austin “Revolving Door”

Points to Ponder What are the differences between men’s and women’s gifts? What are the rules regarding gifts? Does this influence gift giving? Why provide gifts to employees of state agencies? Is this ethical?

Interest Group Technique Personal Communication Communication by lobbyist and group members Goal of a lobbyist is to inform legislators of the lobbying group’s position on an issue Establishes communication with those surrounding the law-making and rule-making process Emphasis on information-based communication

Student Lobbyist for the Day Students in Action Student Lobbyist for the Day Training provided by St. Mary’s University to lobby Texas Legislature for one day while in session Offers students practical application of learned skills Allows students opportunity to network with elected officials and other lobbyists

Revolving Door –former members of Texas Legislature return as lobbyists What are the rules guiding this process? Does Texas have stringent control over the revolving door? Why or why not? Why are former members of the Texas Legislature so sought after as lobbyists? Points to Ponder

Interest Group Techniques Favors and Gifts Arrange social gatherings, gift giving, and travel (with limitations) in order to influence lawmakers Grassroots Activities Mobilizing public support of an issue with use of political campaign techniques such as commercials, the Internet, etc.

Electioneering Electioneering Methods of Electioneering Active campaigning on behalf of candidate Methods of Electioneering Publicizing the political record of incumbent candidates Mailing lists, Internet activities, commercials, etc. Allow candidates to speak at interest-group events If supportive candidate gets elected, then interest group expects increased access to politician

Should campaign contributions be limited? What is your opinion? Point/Counterpoint Should campaign contributions be limited? What is your opinion? Arguments for limiting campaign contributions Arguments against limiting campaign contributions Current federal law has caps Campaign contributions are form of freedom of expression Without limitations, wealthy individuals and PACs will have a tremendous influence Campaign contributions guarantee access, not policy outcomes

Campaign Finance Political Action Committees (PACs) Organizational device used by interest groups and other groups to raise money for campaign contributions Increased influence on campaign contributions No Texas limitation on PAC contributions or fundraising (excluding judicial campaigns) Largest PACs are business related

How Do We Compare? How Do We Compare…in Total Contributions from February 1 to February 21, 2010? Why do you believe that campaign contributions are so evenly distributed among party members at that time in Texas? Being such a conservative state, why would Democrats still receive a high number of contributions?

Campaign Contributions

Bribery and Unethical Practices Rarely used by politicians Often the most common form of illegal activity is elected official agreeing to vote a particular way in exchange for campaign contributions Texas is usually reactive to illegal campaign activities instead of proactive with legislation Sharpstown

Regulation of Interest Group Policies Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) Created to enforce legal standards for lobbyist and public officials TEC Functions Registers lobbyists and election candidates Gathers lobbyists’ client names and payments Collects sources of campaign contributions on a required basis Investigates and conducts hearings on ethic complaints against state officials, state employees, and candidates

Regulation of Interest Group Policies No limit, excluding judicial elections, on how much to give or spend for Texas Campaign Quid pro Quo – illegal Corporations and Interest Groups cannot give directly to a campaigns, must create PACs Soft money directed to state Republican and Democratic party coffers as “administrative expenses” Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2009)

How Do We Compare? How Do We Compare…in Campaign Finance Laws? How does Texas compare on lobbyist limitations? How does lobbying control in Texas compare to its border states? Campaign finance ranking?

Interest Group Power and Public Policy Political Influence of Interest Groups determined by Group with a sizable membership Above-average financial resources Knowledgeable and dedicated leadership High degree of unity Broad-based public support Represented in the structure of the government Weak government produces strong interest groups Limited political party power