Interest Groups

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interest group

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An organization
that seeks to influence government
officials and their policies on behalf of
members sharing common views and
objectives (e.g., labor union or trade
association)

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right of association

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The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that this right is part of the right of assembly guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and that it protects
the right of people to organize into groups for political purposes

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decentralized government

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Decentralization is achieved by dividing power between
national and state governments and separating legislative, executive, and judicial branches
at both levels.)

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The Strength of the Party System and Political Ideologies

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the strength (or
weakness) of the party system and political ideologies

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organizational patterns

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The structure of a special interest
group. Some interest groups have a decentralized pattern of organization (e.g., the AFLCIO,
with many local unions). Others are centralized (e.g., the National Rifle Association, which
is a national body without affiliated local or regional units

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group leadership

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Individuals
who guide the decisions of interest groups. Leaders of groups tend to have financial
resources that permit them to contribute money and devote time to group affairs

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Types of Interest Groups

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Economic Groups
Professional/Career Groups
Social Groups
Public Interest Groups
Texas Power Groups

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economic interest

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Trade associations and
labor unions are classified as economic interest groups because they are organized to
promote policies that will maximize profits and wages

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Business organizations

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An economic
interest group, such as a trade association (e.g., Texas Association of Builders), that lobbies
for policies favoring Texas business

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Labor organizations

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A union that supports
pubic policies designed to increase wages, obtain adequate health insurance coverage,
provide unemployment insurance, promote safe working conditions, and otherwise protect
the interests of workers.

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professional groups

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An organization of physicians, lawyers,
accountants, or other professional people that lobbies for policies beneficial to members

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Government Employee Groups

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Officers and employees of state and local governments organize to obtain better working
conditions, higher wages, more fringe benefits, and better retirement packages.

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public officer and employee groups

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An organization of
city managers, county judges, or other public employees or officials that lobbies for public
policies that protect group interests.

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social interest groups

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Included among groups concerned primarily with social issues are organizations devoted to civil rights, racial and ethnic
matters, religion, and pubic interest protection

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racial and ethnic groups

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Organizations that seek to influence
governmental decisions that affect a particular racial or ethnic group, such

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women’s organization

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(A women’s
group, such as the League of Women Voters, that engages in lobbying and educational
activities to promote greater political participation by women and others

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religious-based group

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An interest group, such
as the Texas Faith Network, that lobbies for policies promoting its religious interests

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public interest groups

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An organization claiming to
represent a broad public interest (environmental, consumer, political participation, and
public morality) rather than a narrow private interest.)

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power groups

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An effective interest group strongly linked with
legislators and bureaucrats for the purpose of influencing decision making and having a
continuing presence in Austin as a “repeat player” from session to session

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interest group techniques

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An action such as lobbying, personal
communication, giving favors and gifts, grassroots activities, electioneering, campaign
financing by political action committees, and, in extreme instances, bribery and other
unethical practices intended to influence government decisions.

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Lobbying

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Communicating with legislators or other government officials on behalf of an
interest group for the purpose of influencing decision makers.

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electioneering

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Active campaigning by an
interest group in support of, or opposition to, a candidate; actions urging the public to act
on an issue.

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political
action committees

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An organizational device used by corporations, labor unions, and
other organizations to raise money for campaign contributions.

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Texas Ethics Commission

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A state agency that enforces state standards for
lobbyists and public officials, including registration of lobbyists and reporting of political
campaign contributions.voters approved the amendment in November 1991

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political influence of interest groups

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A highly variable factor that depends largely
on the size of a group’s membership, financial resources, quality of leadership, and degree
of unity to measure its effectiveness.