1. Pearson Longman PoliticalScienceInteractive Shea, Green, and Smith Living Democracy, Second Texas Edition Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas

2. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Power of Interest Groups Pluralism or Elitism? “The Establishment” A coalition of Anglo business and oil company executives, bankers, and lawyers who controlled state policymaking through the dominant conservative wing of the Democratic Party in the days of one-party Democratic politics in Texas, 1938– 1957.

3. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Dominant Interest Groups in Texas Business groups – Various types of organizations Professional groups – e.g., the Texas Medical Association Education groups Public interest groups Minority interest groups Organized labor groups Government lobbyists Agricultural groups Business Groups

4. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Pathways of Action: Do Lobbyists Represent the Average Citizen? Should Lobbying be Restricted? ProCon Takes too much time for average citizens. Lobbyists represent groups composed of citizens. Lobbyists buy influence.Lobbyists are exercising their First Amendment rights. Citizens, corporations, and local governments should have equal access to legislators. Lobbyists provide legislators with valuable information.

5. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Well-established interest group Powerful influence on Republican Party Pathways Profile: The Religious Right and Republican Growth

6. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Development of a Two-Party System Democratic Party dominated from Reconstruction period Passage of Jim Crow laws Bifactionalism Continued through 1950s One-Party Democratic Politics Bifactionalism: The presence of two dominant factions organized around regional, economic, or ideological differences within a single political party.

7. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Development of a Two-Party System Franklin Roosevelt’s election and New Deal influence Texas politics Conservative Democrats move to Republican Party – the “Shivercrats” Dwight D. Eisenhower elected in 1952 Factionalism Develops

8. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Development of a Two-Party System Texas party politics came to national party systems Civil rights movement influential 1990, Ann Richards (D) elected Two-Party Politics and Realignment Realignment: Major shift in political party support or identification that usually occurs around a critical election

9. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Development of a Two-Party System 2002 – Republicans sweep elections 2004 – Republicans win a majority of congressional delegates 2006 – Democrats gain some seats Toward Republican Dominance

10. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Development of a Two-Party System Grangers, Populists, Progressives, Dixiecrats, La Raza Unida Libertarians – On every ballot since 1986 Green Party – On the 2002 ballot Third Parties

11. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Development of a Two-Party System Highly decentralized Anti-party tradition Parties and Government

12. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Changing Patterns of Party Support and Identification

13. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Changing Patterns of Party Support and Identification Realignment, 1975–1985 Large Independent minority Ticket splitting common

14. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Party Organization

15. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Party Organization The Permanent Organization Precinct Local voting area created by county commissioners Precinct Chair Local officer in a political party who presides over the precinct convention and serves on the party’s County Executive Committee. Voters in each precinct elect a chair in the party’s primary election Tina Benkiser, chair of the Republican Party

16. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas The Party Organization Temporary Organizations Conventions Held at three levels: precinct, county or district, and state

17. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Minorities, Women, and Political Participation White Primary The practice of allowing only whites to participate in a party’s primary election Voting Rights Act The Voting Rights Act barred discrimination in voting, registration, and drawing district lines

18. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Minorities, Women, and Political Participation Long history of disenfranchisement – White primaries. – Registration procedures made registration drives difficult. – Property qualifications until 1970s. National moter voter law, 1993. Women gain the vote in Texas only with passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. Voting Rights Act, 1965 – Eliminated many discriminatory practices.

19. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Minorities, Women, and Political Participation Hispanics –Recent growth in office-holding –But few in statewide office

20. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Minorities, Women, and Political Participation African Americans – Growing political influence Women – Gaining ground at both local and statewide levels

21. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Elections in Texas Primary Elections Primary Election Election in which the parties select their nominees for the general election Direct primary Turnout has increased since the second party emerged – But still lower than during one-party period

22. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Elections in Texas General Elections Elections in which party nominees face off, with the winner taking office Other Elections City, school board, and single- purpose district elections Special elections

23. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Campaign Finances Campaign Costs

24. Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second Texas EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 21: Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections in Texas Campaign Finances Fundraising –Campaign contribution limits in judicial races. Political Action Committees –e.g., Texans for Lawsuit Reform. Attempts at Reform –Requirements that candidates and PACs list donors.