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3. 1) What types of interest groups are active in American politics, and what are their goals? 2) What strategies and tactics do interest groups use to achieve their goals? Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc

4. The Howard Amendment Rainy Day Fund: Texas’ savings account funded by a portion of oil and gas production revenues Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Case Study Rep. Donna Howard’s amendment would dedicate surplus money in the Rainy Day Fund to be sent to the state’s school districts to help pay for enrollment growth. Passed 101-42 in the Texas House, but quickly became controversial

5. The Howard Amendment Small-government conservative groups charged that the Howard amendment was reckless, i.e. - Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Empower Texas, Americans for Prosperity Texas Freedom Works LibertyLinked Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Case Study Posted online the names of Republican legislators who voted for the amendment Used social media to alert conservative activists Within days, the tide turned in the legislature against the amendment 87-59

6. Interest Group: Organization of people who join together voluntarily on the basis of some interest they share for the purpose of influencing policy The most important organized interests in Texas politics - Who are the interests? How well are they organized? What do they want from state and local government? How effective are they at achieving their goals? Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Interest Groups in Texas Politics

7. Business groups and trade associations are the most powerful interest groups in Texas politics. Business groups and trade associations generally agree on the need to maintain a good business climate – Political environment in which business prospers Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Business Groups and Trade Associations Includes low tax rates on business, laws that restrict union influence, and regulation favorable to business growth Effective because they are organized, well-financed, and skilled in advocating their positions

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9. Politically influential because of the relatively high socioeconomic status of their members Concern themselves with public policies that affect their members Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Professional Associations Examples: Texas Medical Association (TMA) Texas Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA) Texas Association of Realtors (TAR)

10. Organized labor is relatively weak in Texas. Right-to-Work Law Prohibits a union shop, which is a workplace in which every employee must belong to a union Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Organized Labor 2010: Only 5.4 percent of Texas workers belonged to unions Less than half the national unionization rate of 11.9 percent. Texas ranked 43rd among the 50 states

11. If you were a member of the Texas legislature, would you vote to repeal the state’s right- to-work law? Why or why not? Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc What Do You Think?

12. Agricultural interests have long been powerful in Texas politics. Farmers and ranchers are – Politically astute Organized Knowledgeable about how to exert influence in state politics Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Agricultural Groups Many of the policy goals of agricultural interests have long since been achieved and are entrenched in law or the state constitution.

13. Racial and ethnic minority groups enjoy some political influence in Texas. Concerns include: Protecting the voting rights of minority citizens Election and appointment of minority Texans to state and local office College and university admission policies Public services for low-income residents Inner-city development Economic development Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups

14. Best-known organizations are: Texas League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Texas chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups Considerably more influential in Texas politics today, but not as much as more established groups

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16. Churches and other religious institutions provide the foundation for a number of political organizations. Roman Catholic and Protestant churches have helped organize political groups to support issues such as – Healthcare, education, and neighborhood improvement for the poor Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Religious Groups Religious right – Includes some of the most active and probably most influential religiously oriented political groups Individuals who hold conservative social views

17. Legislature Adopts Abortion Sonogram Requirement Doctors must administer a sonogram before performing an abortion. Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Breaking News! What is the purpose of the law? The legislature considered the sonogram law in previous sessions but failed to pass it. Why was it successful in 2011? Do pro-choice forces have any remaining options to oppose the sonogram law?

18. Organizations created to support government policies that they believe will benefit the public at large Texans for Public Justice (TPJ) and Common Cause work for - Campaign finance reform Ethics regulations for public officials Variety of other “good-government” causes Texas Public Interest Research Group (Tex-PIRG) and Texas Watch are consumer rights organizations. Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Citizen Advocacy and Cause Groups

19. Advocacy groups are created to seek benefits on behalf of persons who are unable to represent their own interests, e.g. – Children’s Defense Fund Texas AIDS Network Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Citizen Advocacy and Cause Groups Cause groups are organizations whose members care intensely about a single issue or a group of related issues, e.g. – Texas Right to Life Committee NARAL Pro-Choice Texas MADD

20. If you were a member of the Texas legislature, would you support the Texas sonogram law? Why or why not? Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc What Do You Think?

21. Electioneering: Attempting to influence public policy by participating in the electoral process Methods: Endorsing favored candidates Delivering a block vote on behalf of candidates Contributing money through political action committees (PACs), which are organizations created to raise and distribute money in political campaigns Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Interest Group Strategies and Tactics

22. Texas does not limit the amount of money individuals, businesses, or PACs can contribute to campaigns. 2010: A PAC associated with AT&T contributed $1.4 million to candidates for statewide and legislative office. Over $900,000 Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Interest Group Strategies and Tactics Factors PACs use to determine which candidates to support Sympathetic to their policy preferences Likelihood of a candidate’s winning Incumbent officeholders

23. Legal Prostitution in Nevada Allows every county except Clark County (Las Vegas) to license and regulate brothel prostitution Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Around the Nation 1) If you were in the Nevada legislature, would you vote to outlaw the brothels? Why or why not? 2) What does the existence of legalized brothels in Nevada suggest about the nature of interest group influence in the state compared with interest group influence in Texas? What groups are influential in Nevada but less influential in Texas, and vice versa? 3) If the Texas legislature allowed each county to decide whether to have legal brothels, would you actively support the move in your county, actively oppose it, or stay out of the debate? Why?

24. Lobbying Communication of information by a representative of an interest group to a government official for the purpose of influencing a policy decision Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Interest Group Strategies and Tactics Methods: Social lobbying Information and research Campaign financing Mobilizing supporters

25. Public Relations Campaigns Attempting to influence policy by building public support for their points of view Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Interest Group Strategies and Tactics Example: Groups supporting tort reform conducted a sophisticated public relations campaign to win support for their point of view, i.e., Purchasing billboards and running television and radio advertisements against what they called “lawsuit abuse”

26. Litigation Attempting to influence policy by filing a lawsuit Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Interest Group Strategies and Tactics Example: 2009: Shell Oil Company settled a lawsuit filed by Environment Texas and the Sierra Club by agreeing to reduce emissions at its Deer Park refinery. Also promised to pay a $5.8 million penalty

27. Protest Demonstrations A tactic sometimes used by groups unable to achieve their goals through other means Occasionally catches the attention of the general public and pressure is brought to bear on behalf of the protesting group In most cases, protests have only a marginal impact on public policy. Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Interest Group Strategies and Tactics

28. Political Violence Occasionally, frustrated groups go beyond peaceful protest to violent, illegal activities. Usually produces a harsh response from the political establishment It can occasionally succeed in calling the public’s attention to an issue that might otherwise be ignored. Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Interest Group Strategies and Tactics

29. Is violence on behalf of a political cause ever justified? Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc What Do You Think?

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31. Alliances Interest groups find power in alliances with other interest groups and political parties. Copyright @2012, 2011, 2009, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc Interest Group Strategies and Tactics The Republican Party is currently in firm control of all three branches of Texas government, and groups allied with it benefit, including – Business groups, antiabortion organizations, small- government groups, and religious conservatives