Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Campaigning

Informal and Formal Interest Groups Interest Groups Pressure Groups Lobbyist Legislative Judicial Executive Constitutional Public Opinion –Public Interest

Interests in Texas Business Professions Agriculture Labor Unions Ethnic Groups Other Interests –Roe v. Wade (1973)

Lobbying Lobbyists Executive and Judicial Lobbying

Table 4.1 – Number of Lobbyists Reporting By Interest Represented, 2002

Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbying Sharpstown Bank Scandal 1973 Lobby Regulation Reform Law of 1973 –Must register as a lobbyist If spending exceeds $200 If one lobbies for compensation or part of one’s job –Must file monthly expense reports during legislative sessions –Must file quarterly reports between sessions –Must report contributors of more than $500

Regulating Interest Groups and Lobbying Federal Election Campaign Spending Act of 1974 –Federal Election Commission –Political Action Committees (PACs)

Political Parties Political Party a coalition of political economic, and moral factions that are attempting to gain control of government in order to further their interests Purposes Nominate and elect their members to office Develop issues or philosophy Mobilize voters Run government

Political Parties The Democrats –Liberals –Conservatives The Republicans

Political Parties Party Competition –One-party Democratic State –Realignment –Two-party State –Republican Successes Republican Dominance –1994 Election –Realigning Election

Figure 4.1 – Levels of Interparty Competition in the States, Source: John F. Bibby & Thomas M. Holbrook, “Parties and Elections,” in Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis, 7 th ed., Herbert Jacob & Virginia Gray, eds. (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 1996), Table 3-2.

Figure 4.2 – How Texas Voted for President, 2000 Source: Federal Election Commission,

Figure 4.3 – Texas Political Party Organization

Political Parties Geographic and Republican Distribution Republican Strength –Aransas county –German Hill Country –Edwards Plateau –Permian Basin –West Texas to Panhandle Democratic Strength –South Texas –between Houston and German Hill country and Gulf Coast –East, Central and West Texas –Southeastern Panhandle

Political Parties Party Organization Voting Precinct County or Senatorial District State National

Political Parties Temporary Party Organization –Voting Precinct –County or District Conventions –State Conventions Permanent Party Organization –Voting Precinct –County Chair and Executive Committee –State

Political Parties Liberalism –Seek to change status quo –Regard man as rational –Problem solving process Conservatism –Defend status quo –Edmund Burke –Political stability maintained by slow change

Political Parties Campaigning –Informal Requirements WASP Image Name recognition Money –Issues –Campaign assistance –Polls –Media