Classification
Economic Groups
Are manufacturers’ associations or labor unions.
Economic
Groups involved in the economy are more likely to be organized than are consuming groups.
Electioneering
Interest groups try to ensure that their future efforts at persuasion will be more effective is by supporting candidates for public office.
Requires Candidates for Public Office
Win or not, to disclose cash balances in their campaign accounts.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform
The group was formed by business leaders determined to change what they perceived as “Texas’ Wild West Litigation Environment” by altering the state’s tort laws.
Spiritual Groups
Are church organizations or pro-life and pro-choice associations.
Education
People who are well educated are likely to join or create organizations.
Lobbying
To try to influence government policy through face-to-face contact.
Legislature that are Lawyers
Have to disclose when they are being paid to try to delay trials during a legislative session.
Organized Labor
The Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a powerful interest group that has great influence on state policy, but there is little evidence to support this assumption.
Ethnic Groups
Like the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Money
People with a lot of money can fund organizations better and expand them.
The Public
Attempting to influence public policy indirectly by “educating” the public.
Candidates Online
Must file campaign finance reports via the internet unless they raise or spend less than $2,000 a year.
League of United Latin American Citizens
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was formed in Corpus Christi in 1929 its founding members were concerned about discrimination against Mexican Americans, especially in public education. In its first three decades, LULAC pursued the goal of equal education as both a private charitable organization and a public crusader.
Associations Of Local Governments
Like the Texas Municipal League and the Texas Association of Counties.
Citizens
People who join groups out of personal involvement as opposed to economic stake tend to feel very strongly about the particular issue that is the group’s reason for existence.
Co-Opting
Industries and their interest groups come to dominate administrative agencies that were originally established to regulate the industry’s activities.
Local Officials in Cities
100,000 population and school districts with more than 5,000 students must file personal financial statements.
Doctors
Texas Medical Association (TMA), founded in 1853, the state’s major doctors’ interest group paid scant attention to state politics for most of its history.
Public Interest Groups
Try to pursue their understanding of interests common to all citizens rather than the individual interests of their members.
Influence
Producers tend to exert more political influence than consumers, the middle and upper classes more influence than the working classes, and passionate believers more influence than citizens who are less emotionally involved.
The Court
Groups representing important economic interests make substantial contributions during judicial campaigns, hire lawyers to influence judges with legal arguments, and file suits.
Ethics Bill
Ensured that more information will be available to the public.
The Christian Right
The groups’ purposes were to inform religious, politically conservative voters of a candidate’s positions on certain issues and to persuade them to participate more actively in local politics.