1. Chapter 6
Interest Groups

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Learning Objectives
LO 6.1 Define interest groups and identify their major types. LO 6.2 Describe how interest groups influence public policies in Texas. LO 6.3 Analyze the political balance of power among interest groups in Texas. LO 6.4 Evaluate the role of interest groups in Texas politics and policy formulation. LO 6.5 Apply what you have learned about interest groups.
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3. Types of Interest Groups
Economic Groups
Noneconomic Groups
Mixed Groups
Groups pursuing both social equality and economic goals
Groups that fight discrimination on the basis of disability considered to be in this category
Interest group: A voluntary organization that strives to influence public policy; sometimes known as a pressure group
Economic interest groups seek financial advantages for their members.
Noneconomic groups seek the betterment of society as a whole or the reform of the political, social, or economic systems in ways that do not directly affect their members’ pocketbooks.
Groups pursuing both social equality and economic goals are classified as mixed or hybrid organizations.
Can you identify an interest group in
each category?
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4. Interest Group Classifications and Selected Examples
Table 6.1 This table shows the types of interest groups and examples of each.
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5. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Business and agriculture interest groups are interested in:
Securing benefits called subsidies.
Keeping their taxes low.
Receiving government contracts to increase profits.
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6. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Labor unions seek legislation for all of the following:
making it easier to organize
enforcing workplace safety packages
obtaining generous workers’ compensation
Unions generally oppose “right to work laws.”
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7. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Noneconomic interest groups seek the betterment of society as a whole or the reform of the political, social, or economic system in ways that do not directly affect their member’s pocketbooks.
NRA
Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Groups
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8. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Noneconomic interest groups benefit from (often rely on) large membership because it translates into greater political clout in the Texas legislature.
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9. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Reasons people join interest groups include:
receive the monthly or quarterly magazine or newsletter
be a member of a network of like-minded people
to protect their economic, recreational, social, or political interests
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10. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
The primary goal of interest groups is to influence all branches of government at all levels.
Promotion of a particular public policy position. (Advocacy)
Lobbying: Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy.
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11. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Interest Groups use both direct and indirect means to influence government
Direct tactics include:
Lobbying officeholders
Filing suits in court
Getting advocates appointed to state boards
Testifying before legislative committees
Lobbying: Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy.
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12. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Interest groups generally do not attempt to have their members elected to political office.
Interest groups are not considered to be political parties.
Lobbying: Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy.
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13. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Interest groups employ lobbyists to express their values and persuade government to support their goals.
Lobbying: Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy.
Lobbying: Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy.
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14. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Lobbying activities include
Contacting members of the state legislature, both house and senate.
Petitioning members of the executive branch.
Bringing lawsuits in the courts.
Rallying the public for support.
Fabrication of public support for issues supported by interest groups, but which give the impression of widespread public support, is called astroturf lobbying.
Lobbying: Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy.

15. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Interest groups seek to build a positive public image by:
Hiring public relations firms
Demonstrating good citizenship
Using print and broadcast advertisements
Lobbying: Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy.
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16. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Lobbying the Legislature
Lobbying
Preparing to lobby
Socializing
Using tools of persuasion
Targeting key legislators
Lobbying: Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy.
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17. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Education and local government groups lobby for all of the following:
increasing salaries and benefits for their public employees
supporting their governments
obtaining more local control or less state control over their affairs
OTOH oppose unfunded state mandates.
Lobbying: Directly contacting public officials to advocate for a public policy.
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18. Lobbying the Legislature
Pro-life and pro-choice interest groups rally in Texas Capitol dome as state Senator Wendy Davis filibusters a bill limiting abortions. Interest groups use techniques such as these to influence public policy in the state.
Source: Tina Phan/MCT/Newscom
Do public demonstrations substantially influence public opinion and policy?
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19. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
In preparing to lobby the legislature, a good lobbyist will:
Memorize the faces of the members, their non-legislative occupation, and the counties they represent.
Get to know the staff of legislators.
establish rapport through contact with specific members of the legislature.
Know the legislative issues, including the arguments of opponents.
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20. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
A successful lobbyist will attempt to
gain support or at least neutrality from legislative leaders on one’s group’s proposals.
secure endorsement of the chair of each committee through which one’s legislation must pass.
secure the positive endorsement of community representatives for legislation sought by local governments.
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21. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Getting support of the presiding officers of the legislature (Speaker of the House and Lt. Governor) is particularly important for a lobbyist.
A higher priority than support from the majority of residents in the state, the chair of legislative, committees relevant to your issue, or key religious leaders in the state.
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22. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Texas lobbyists outnumber legislators by a ratio of roughly 9 to 1
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23. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Influencing and the Executive Branch
Targeting the rule-making process
Implementation
Discretion
Texas Register
Official state publication of actions proposed by state agencies
Notice of intent to make a rule
Used by most interest groups
Mostly unknown to most citizens
Texas Register: The official publication of the state that gives the public notice of proposed actions and adopted policies of executive branch. The Texas Register is used by a state agency to provide notice of intent to make a rule.

24. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Lobbyists are able to have influence on the policy-making process after a law leaves the legislature because the Texas legislature gives the bureaucracy a great deal of administrative discretion through the rule-making process.
Implementation: Administrative agencies carrying out broad public policies, enforcing state laws, providing public services, and managing day-to-day government activities.
Discretion: Wide latitude to make decisions within the broad requirements set out in the law.
Texas Register: The official publication of the state that gives the public notice of proposed actions and adopted policies of executive branch
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25. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Influencing and the Executive Branch (cont.)
Targeting the appointment process
Co-opting state agencies
Clientele groups
Co-optation (blurred lines)
Such a close alliance develops between state regulatory agencies and their clientele group that the regulated have, in effect, become the regulators; the interest group has captured such complete control of their regulatory agency that they are essentially self-regulated.
Clientele interest groups: The groups most affected by a government agency’s regulations and programs; frequently these interest groups form close alliances with the agency based on mutual support and accommodation.
Co-optation: Such a close alliance that develops between state regulatory agencies and their clientele group that the regulated have, in effect, become the regulators; the interest group has captured such complete control of their regulatory agency that they are essentially self-regulated.

26. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Targeting the Courts
Influencing the judicial selection process
Filing suit in court
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27. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Special interest groups use the court system because:
The court system can give a more favorable interpretation of the law than that given by the enforcing agency.
Lawsuits are less expensive than trying to influence the legislature.
The court system serves as a way to delay application of costly rules.
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28. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Lobbyists influence the courts in Texas by
Actively campaigning for candidates who support their cause.
Encouraging the governor to fill court vacancies with friendly judicial appointees.
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29. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Shaping the Political Environment
Electioneering
When an organization decides to endorse and recommend that its members vote for the candidate more disposed to support their values
Contributing to campaigns
Access: The ability to “get in the door” to sit down and talk to public officials. Campaign contributions are often used to gain access.
Access: The ability to “get in the door” to sit down and talk to public officials. Campaign contributions are often used to gain access.
Astroturf lobbying: Special interest groups orchestrating demonstrations to give the impression of widespread and spontaneous public support.
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30. Interest groups’ targets and tactics
Educating the public
Organizing public demonstrations
Astroturf lobbying: Special interest groups orchestrating demonstrations to give the impression of widespread and spontaneous public support.
Access: The ability to “get in the door” to sit down and talk to public officials. Campaign contributions are often used to gain access.
Astroturf lobbying: Special interest groups orchestrating demonstrations to give the impression of widespread and spontaneous public support.
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31. Public Demonstrations
State employees such as these teachers become an economic interest group when they demonstrate in support of their job benefits.
Source: AP Images/Deborah Cannon
What precautions must interest groups take if they are to use public protests as an effective tactic?
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32. The balance of political power in Texas
Texas’s Most Powerful Interest Groups
Various economic interest groups
Texas Association of Business
Texans for Lawsuit Reform
Texas Medical Association
Texas Realtors’ Association
Texas Oil and Gas Association
Umbrella organizations: Associations formed by smaller interests joining together to promote common policy goals by making campaign contributions and hiring lobbyists to represent their interests.
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33. The balance of political power in Texas
Biggest spenders by type:
Energy, natural resources, waste
Ideological, single issue
Health
Umbrella organizations: Associations formed by smaller interests joining together to promote common policy goals by making campaign contributions and hiring lobbyists to represent their interests.
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34. The balance of political power in Texas
Biggest individual spenders
AT&T (Spent more on lobbying than all unions combined)
Energy Future Holdings
American Electric Power
Oncor Electric Delivery Company
CenterPoint Energy
Umbrella organizations: Associations formed by smaller interests joining together to promote common policy goals by making campaign contributions and hiring lobbyists to represent their interests.
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35. The balance of political power in Texas
Umbrella organizations: Associations formed by smaller interests joining together to promote common policy goals by making campaign contributions and hiring lobbyists to represent their interests.
Chamber of Commerce
Municipal League
Umbrella organizations: Associations formed by smaller interests joining together to promote common policy goals by making campaign contributions and hiring lobbyists to represent their interests.
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36. The biggest spenders on lobbyists in Texas
Table 6.2 Shows which interests spent the most on lobbying. By late May 2013, 1,663 Texas lobbyists reported that 2,820 clients took out 8,172 paid lobby contracts worth a grand total of from $155 million to $328 million.
Source: Texans for Public Justice, “Texas Top Lobbyists: Special Interests Paid Lobbyists up to $328 Million in 2013 Session,” Lobbyists% pdf.
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37. The balance of political power in Texas
BUT it is difficult for any one special interest group to dominate Texas state politics
There is a wide diversity of interests.
Iron triangle: A long-standing alliance among interest groups, legislators, and bureaucrats held together by mutual self interest that they act as a subsystem in the legislative and administrative decision-making process.
Issue networks: Dynamic alliances among a wide range of individuals and groups activated by broad public policy questions.
Political movement: A mass alliance of like-minded groups and individuals seeking broad changes in the direction of government policies.
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38. The balance of political power in Texas
Research shows that the main element that determines the political power of a group is how much public officials need the group.
Studies regarding the power of interest groups also consistently show that where political parties are weak, interest groups are strong.
Iron triangle: A long-standing alliance among interest groups, legislators, and bureaucrats held together by mutual self interest that they act as a subsystem in the legislative and administrative decision-making process.
Issue networks: Dynamic alliances among a wide range of individuals and groups activated by broad public policy questions.
Political movement: A mass alliance of like-minded groups and individuals seeking broad changes in the direction of government policies.
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39. The balance of political power in Texas
Interest Group Alliances and the Dynamics of Power
Iron triangles consist of legislative committee members, high-ranking bureaucrats, and representatives of special interests
held together by mutual self interest that they act as a subsystem in the legislative and administrative decision-making process.
Iron triangle: A long-standing alliance among interest groups, legislators, and bureaucrats held together by mutual self interest that they act as a subsystem in the legislative and administrative decision-making process.
Issue networks: Dynamic alliances among a wide range of individuals and groups activated by broad public policy questions.
Political movement: A mass alliance of like-minded groups and individuals seeking broad changes in the direction of government policies.
Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

40. The balance of political power in Texas
Issue network
Dynamic alliances among a wide range of individuals and groups activated by broad public policy questions.
Political movements
A mass alliance of like-minded groups and individuals seeking broad changes in the direction of government policies.
Iron triangle: A long-standing alliance among interest groups, legislators, and bureaucrats held together by mutual self interest that they act as a subsystem in the legislative and administrative decision-making process.
Issue networks: Dynamic alliances among a wide range of individuals and groups activated by broad public policy questions.
Political movement: A mass alliance of like-minded groups and individuals seeking broad changes in the direction of government policies.
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41. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
The Positive Role of Interest Groups
Representation and mobilization
The benefits of pluralism
Pluralist theory
Pluralist theory: The view that in a free society public policy should be made by a multitude of competing interest groups, assuring that policies will not benefit a single elite at the expense of the many.
How is interest group formation a constitutional right?
What services do they perform for the political system?
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42. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
Criticisms and Reforms
Elitism and the culture of nonparticipation
The view that the state is ruled by a small number of participants who exercise power to further their own self-interest.
Exploitation of weak state institutions
Elitist theory: The view that the state is ruled by a small number of participants who exercise power to further their own self-interest.
Revolving door: The interchange of employees between government agencies and the private businesses with which they have dealings.
Conflict of interest: A situation in which public officers stand to benefit personally from their official decisions.
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43. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
The revolving door
The interchange of employees between government agencies and the private businesses with which they have dealings.
Conflict of interest
A situation in which public officers stand to benefit personally from their official decisions.
Elitist theory: The view that the state is ruled by a small number of participants who exercise power to further their own self-interest.
Revolving door: The interchange of employees between government agencies and the private businesses with which they have dealings.
Conflict of interest: A situation in which public officers stand to benefit personally from their official decisions.
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44. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
. Under Texas law ex-legislators can become lobbyists with no restrictions.
Elitist theory: The view that the state is ruled by a small number of participants who exercise power to further their own self-interest.
Revolving door: The interchange of employees between government agencies and the private businesses with which they have dealings.
Conflict of interest: A situation in which public officers stand to benefit personally from their official decisions.
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45. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
Criticisms and Reforms (cont.)
Suspect interest group practices
Late-train contributions
Campaign funds given to the winning candidate after the election up to 30 days before the legislature comes into session. Such contributions are designed to curry favor with winning candidates.
Late-train contributions: Campaign funds given to the winning candidate after the election up to 30 days before the legislature comes into session. Such contributions are designed to curry favor with winning candidates.
What is the evidence that campaign contributions influence public policy making?
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46. lobbying and policymaking
Rep. Sylvester Turner, center,
is approached by lobbyists outside the Texas House of Representatives chamber.
Source: AP Images/Harry Cabluck
What is the evidence that campaign contributions influence public policymaking?
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47. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
The Regulation of Lobbying
The Texas Ethics Commission is the state agency that has the responsibility to establish standards of conduct for lobbyists
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48. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
The Center for Public Integrity has criticized the Texas Ethics Commission for the following reasons:
Members are appointed by the governor and legislature creating a conflict of interest.
Commissioners split along party lines.
In order to pursue any investigation, six of eight commissioners must agree.
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49. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
The Regulation of Lobbying
Not all lobbyists are required by state law to register and report their activities.
Lobbyists not paid wages or reimbursed for their expenses are not required to register with the state.
Individuals and organizations that spend more than a specified amount of money attempting to shape public decisions are required to register.
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50. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
The Regulation of Lobbying
Lobbyist Reports
Actual clients
General areas of policy concerns
Range of compensation
Expenditures on communication to support or oppose legislation
Expenditures on state legislators (over $50 a day)
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51. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
The Regulation of Lobbying
According to state law, when registering, lobbyists are required to reveal to the state
for whom the person lobbies
information about their clients and employers
the policy areas of concern
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52. Sizing up interest groups and their influence
The Regulation of Lobbying (cont.)
Evaluating Reporting Requirements
Critics say public ill-informed and categories too broad
Texas Ethics Commission: a better library than cop
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53. How Does Texas Compare? corruption Risk
How Does Texas Compare? Corruption Risk among the 50 States
Sources: The Center for Public Integrity, Public Radio International, and Global Integrity, State Integrity Investigation: Keeping Government Honest , org/your state ; Caitlin Ginley, “Grading the Nation: How Accountable Is Your State?” Center for Public Integrity , March 19, 2012, ww.iwatchnews.org/2012/03/19/8423/grading-nation-how-accountable-your-state ; Kelley Shannon, “Texas: The story Behind the Score,” Center for Public Integrity, State Integrity Investigation: Keeping Government Honest , .
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Texas Farmers Are Suffering Through The Second Worst Drought in the States' History, Forcing Ranchers to Sell Off Cattle
Click on picture to view video
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55. video discussion questions
Collectively, Texas cattle ranchers represent which type of interest group?
Which lobbying tactics may benefit this group? Who should they target?
What other groups were affected by the drought? How do their needs differ from the ranchers?
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