Ch 5 Slides

Question 1

The Roles of Interest Groups

• __________ –Collections of individuals who share a common set of ideas or principles and who attempt to advance those ideas by influencing public-policy makers

Answer 1

The Roles of Interest Groups

• Interest groups –Collections of individuals who share a common set of ideas or principles and who attempt to advance those ideas by influencing public-policy makers
  
  • Narrower focus than political parties

Question 2

The Roles of Interest Groups

• ________ –The process of influencing the actions of government through interaction with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Answer 2

The Roles of Interest Groups

• Lobbying –The process of influencing the actions of government through interaction with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Question 3

Interest Groups: The Case For

• Interest groups play an important role
  
  • Speak for _______ on a variety of issues

Answer 3

Interest Groups: The Case For

• Interest groups play an important role
  
  • Speak for voters on a variety of issues

Question 4

Interest Groups: The Case For

• Interest groups play an important role
  
  • Help call attention to the _____ of various groups

Answer 4

Interest Groups: The Case For

• Interest groups play an important role
  
  • Help call attention to the needs of various groups

Question 5

Interest Groups: The Case For

• Practically every profession and vocation has an interest group
  
  • __________
  • __________
  • __________

Answer 5

Interest Groups: The Case For

• Practically every profession and vocation has an interest group
  
  • Texas State Teachers Association
  • Texas Medical Association
  • Texas chapter of the American Federation for Labor

Question 6

Interest Groups: The Case For

• Represent _____ sides of an issue

Answer 6

Interest Groups: The Case For

• Represent both sides of an issue

Question 7

Interest Groups: The Case Against

• Some voices are heard more clearly than others
  
  • _________ interest groups are more successful

Answer 7

Interest Groups: The Case Against

• Some voices are heard more clearly than others
  
  • Well-funded interest groups are more successful

Question 8

Interest Groups: The Case Against

• The fact that interest groups are willing to spend so much money gives the appearance that groups are ______ the votes of elected officials

Answer 8

Interest Groups: The Case Against

• The fact that interest groups are willing to spend so much money gives the appearance that groups are buying the votes of elected officials

Question 9

The Types of Interest Groups

• ___________
  
  • Groups whose main purpose is to bring economic benefit to their members

Answer 9

The Types of Interest Groups

• Economic Interest Groups
  
  • Groups whose main purpose is to bring economic benefit to their members
    
    • Business Interest Groups
      
      • Texas Association of Business
    • Labor Interest Groups
      
      • AFL-CIO
    • Ethnic, Gender, and Age-Based Interest Groups
      
      • League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
      • Equality Texas, The National Organization for Women, NAACP

Question 10

The Types of Interest Groups

• ___________
  
  • Groups that lobby for issues that do not bring economic benefit to their members

Answer 10

The Types of Interest Groups

• Public Interest Groups
  
  • Groups that lobby for issues that do not bring economic benefit to their members
    
    • MADD, PETA, Humane Society, environmental groups

Question 11

The Types of Interest Groups

• _________ –interest groups that devote their energies to pursuing a single, narrowly defined policy goal

Answer 11

The Types of Interest Groups

• Single-issue groups –interest groups that devote their energies to pursuing a single, narrowly defined policy goal

Question 12

The Methods of Interest Groups

• How Interest Groups Achieve Their Goals
  
  • Three main avenues through which interest groups achieve their goals:
    
    • _________
    • _________
    • _________

Answer 12

The Methods of Interest Groups

• How Interest Groups Achieve Their Goals
  
  • Three main avenues through which interest groups achieve their goals:
    
    • Lobbying
    • Forming political action committees (PACs)
    • Litigation

Question 13

• ___________
  
  • People who work on behalf of an interest group and who serve as a point of contact between the group and policy makers

Answer 13

• Lobbyists
  
  • People who work on behalf of an interest group and who serve as a point of contact between the group and policy makers
    
    • In many cases, bills are written by lobbyists –they play an important role in providing information because they are the experts in their field

Question 14

Limitations on Lobbyists

• Texas has ____ limitations on lobbyists, and those that exist are often difficult to enforce

Answer 14

Limitations on Lobbyists

• Texas has few limitations on lobbyists, and those that exist are often difficult to enforce

Question 15

Limitations on Lobbyists

• Lobbyists are supposed to ______ with the state if they are involved in direct communication with the legislative or executive branch

Answer 15

Limitations on Lobbyists

• Lobbyists are supposed to register with the state if they are involved in direct communication with the legislative or executive branch

Question 16

_______________

• The act of enlisting the rank-and-file members of an interest group in attempting to sway policymakers
• Often includes massive letter-writing and e-mail efforts
• May also include marches and demonstrations

Answer 16

Membership Mobilization

• The act of enlisting the rank-and-file members of an interest group in attempting to sway policymakers
• Often includes massive letter-writing and e-mail efforts
• May also include marches and demonstrations

Question 17

Money and Interest Groups

• ______________ provide campaign contributions for candidates running for political office
  
  • Play an important role in elections in Texas
  • They can give as much money as they want in Texas
  • Campaign contributions buy access to elected officials

Answer 17

Money and Interest Groups

• Political action committees (PACs) provide campaign contributions for candidates running for political office
  
  • Play an important role in elections in Texas
  • They can give as much money as they want in Texas
  • Campaign contributions buy access to elected officials

Question 18

• ___________ a coalition formed among interest groups, the legislature, and government departments

Answer 18

• The Iron Triangle a coalition formed among interest groups, the legislature, and government departments

Question 19

The Iron Triangle

• Legislators need money in order to run for office, and an ________ can help the legislator meet these needs

Answer 19

The Iron Triangle

• Legislators need money in order to run for office, and an interest group’s PAC can help the legislator meet these needs

Question 20

The Iron Triangle

• ____________ can also provide information, formulate position papers, and draft bills

Answer 20

The Iron Triangle

• Lobbyists for interest groups can also provide information, formulate position papers, and draft bills

Question 21

The Iron Triangle

• Left out of the triangle are the ______, _______, and _______.

Answer 21

The Iron Triangle

• Left out of the triangle are the governor, the public, and the courts