POLS 207 2nd Edition Lecture 7 Outline of Last Lecture I Gerrymandering II Definition of Political Participation III Types and Frequencies of Political Participation by American Citizens IV Participation in the US and Texas Compared to Other Nations a motor voter law V Types of Political Participants VI Participation Factors in Texas Politics a Historical Legacies Social and Economic Factors Party Competition Region Culture VII Requirements for Voting in Texas VIII How to lose your right to vote in Texas IX Reading Homework Chapter 4 Section Protest as Political Participation Outline of Current Lecture I Interest Groups in State Politics II Main Types of Interest Groups a Business Occupational Agriculture Public Interest III Strategies of Interest Groups a Financial Electoral Support Lobbying Public Relations Campaigning IV Interest Group Power and Influence a Factors Diversity of State Industry Party Strength Professionalism State Political Culture Government Fragmentation V Regulations of Interest Groups Specifically In Texas Current Lecture INTEREST GROUPS Reading Reminder for Test 50 Questions Bring a scantron 8 5 x 11 Bring your ID Interest Groups in State Politics interest group a formal association of individuals that attempts to influence governmental policy Some of the Main Types of Interest Groups For each think about each group s incentive to influence government Business Groups o example group of small business owners a manufacturing association a group involved in a certain segment of the economy like the oil gas industry o influence because regulations taxes of the states affect businesses so want to have a say Occupational Professional Groups o ex Teachers Groups want to influence what tests you have to pass what education you have to have what salaries are going to be like what retirement plans are going to be like o directly or indirectly regulated by the state o most states regulate at least 60 occupations teaching barbers stylists morticians etc o state controls their entry who can be teacher who can practice medicine who can cut hair o groups want to have a say in what the pay of compensation what the standards are what the regulations are what the entry is Agriculture Groups o agriculture is a business regulations on safety marketing distribution some agriculture groups look just like other business groups o Some groups though represent farm workers to protect their safety from pesticides etc these groups represent more of an occupational group Public Interest Groups o public interest groups are not trying to seek material benefits for their members on the other hand businesses want better business conditions occupational groups want more pay and compensation most groups are looking for material benefits from gov directly indirectly o public interest groups are NOT aimed at material benefits o public interest groups are aimed at better government for the interest of the public example Sierra Group Environmental Group o work for common cause American Civil Liberties Union Women s Groups o monitor what government does and publicizes what they think good government is The Strategies of Interest Groups 1 Financial Electoral Support o one way groups can get their way in the governmental system o support candidates running for office support political campaigns to further their own cause o Political Action Committees PAC organizations whose sole purpose to channel money to candidates running for office o Why do they give financial support Goal 1 To get somebody elected who is supportive of the group s cause Goal 2 If somebody is elected you want them to feel obligated to the group who helped them get elected o People are concerned that this is too much like buying votes policies o Surveys shows that Interest Groups don t necessarily buy votes legislation cannot expect their candidate to always side with them but the groups do get access the ability to talk to a legislator and convince them to vote on the group s side o Electoral Support endorsements of candidates by a group to sway public votes access to group members to speak at luncheons these groups may encourage their members to go vote getting the word out about voting and endorsing candidates 2 Lobbying o lobbying direct contact and communication with government officials in support of or in opposition to certain policies o environment groups might push to ban certain pesticides versus o agriculture groups might push to keep the pesticides because it helps their business o lobbying state legislators people in the executive branch people in governor s office o main lobbying lobbying to state legislators o perspective lobbying is often viewed negatively but lobbying serves a purpose in educating informing legislators o What happens if lobbyist is twisting facts telling untruths Then legislators will stop listening to them so lobbyists have to convince legislators that their perspective is true 3 Conducting Public Relations Public Education Campaigns o to move public opinion on an issue convince voters in a state of the group s point of view o environmentalist will convince voters that the pesticides are unsafe toxic o do this by advertising and speaking to public o convince voters in order to sway them to contact state legislators to influence the government o to show that public polls are in favor of their interest groups o in the ratification stage of constitutional amendments advertisements by interest groups will try to convince voters to vote for or against the amendment in the referendum another type of public relation campaign Interest Group Power and Influence There is no doubt that interest groups have a powerful influence on state and local policies If they didn t have influence they wouldn t exist wouldn t spend so much money on it However this influence can be hard to measure which strategies work the best There are several reasons for this o 1 Groups and legislators often deny group influence exists o 2 A lot of lobbying is done behind the scenes private meetings o 3 It is hard to determined precisely what part of interest group activity is the most influential factor is it swaying the public is it lobbying is it the financial support Factors Related to Interest Group Influence What we do know Why are interest groups more powerful in some states and less powerful in others 1 Diversity of state industry o the more diverse the state industry the less influential the interest groups are going to be
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