TX Govt. Chapter 6 notes for quiz

Texas Speaker of the House Gib Lewis was indicted for _______.

Taking an illegal gift from a law firm

Downside of contributing to both candidates?

Tends to alienate both candidates

Example of single issue group.

Texans against Gun violence

What was the main result of the questionable practices of Bo Pilgrim and Gib Lewis? (What was created?)

Texas Ethics Commission

Defeating opponents is risky because the candidate may still _____, and then the candidate will be ____ to the interest.

Win/unfriendly

"Steak men"

Would sell their votes for a steak dinner at the Driskell Hotel in Austin

Main example of Getting out the Vote movement.

Texas Medical association raised funds and mobilized voters to elect its candidates to the Texas supreme court

Interest groups provide public officials with all of the following except... a) information b) money c) media coverage d) votes e) committee assignments

e) committee assignments

The goals of interest groups include all except... a) electing people to office in order who support the groups goals b) influencing those who control government c) educating the public and members about issues of importance to the group d) providing campaign funds for favored candidates e) maintaining a heterogeneous membership

e) maintaining a heterogeneous membership

Interest groups are strong in ______ with little partisan competition and _______ economies.

States/undiversified

Interest groups are staying so strong in Texas because of the ______ of the state, ______, and policymakers need benefits from these interest groups.

Size of the state/plural executive

Results for Gib Lewis's actions?

Plea Bargin and minor penalty

Interest groups often hire former legislators as lobbyists to __________.(3)

-gain greater access to current legislators -benefit from the policy expertise of former legislators -benefit from the personal "insider" of knowledge of the former legislator

Interest groups have a hard time defeating incumbent legislators unless ___________.(3)

-scandal -redistricted -opposition

PACs are used to _________.(3)

-stir the publics interest in politics, -raise money from individuals, which is then bundled and given to candidates -Create media campaigns to influence the course of government

What 6 techniques do lobbyists uses to influence the decision of policy makers?

1. Campaign funding 2. PAC 3. Getting out the Vote 4. Supporting incumbents 5. Getting on the Late Train 6. Contributing to both Candidates

What 3 interests are not well represented in lobbying? They are often overlooked.

1. Consumer issues 2. The Environment 3. Human services

4 benefits that interest groups provide to policymakers?

1. Info and expertise 2. Funds 3. Voter mobilization 4. Education

The Bo Pilgrim incident occurred ___ days before Senates voted on a workers compensation bill he was lobbying for.

2

Incumbents in the Texas House of Representatives are able to fund raise ______ compared to challengers.

2x as much

Texas is still _____ in the nation in dollars spent on lobbying.

4th

Tyrus Burks individually lobbied for _______.

A bill that would require property managers to provide visual alarms for hearing impaired tenants.

What was the key to Tyrus Burks success as an individual lobbyist?

Aided by support from Texas Apartment association

Example of an Individual being successful

Andres Correa

Why do lobbyists support incumbents?

Because incumbents have a huge advantage over challenegers

Name the 2 questionable practices between policy makers and lobbyists.

Bo Pilgrim and Gib Lewis

Interest group advantage over individuals?

Bundling

The law firm that Gib Lewis accepted the gift from was specialized in _______.

Collecting delinquent taxes for local government

The Bo Pilgrim questionable practice was when he _______.

Distributed $10,000 blank name checks to nine Texas senators

There are no restrictions on _____.

Former governor legislators

Sam Rayburn refused to accept _____ from lobbyists.

Free meals and entertainment

Lobbyists attempt to gain access to policy makers by spending large amounts of money or _______.

GIFTS

The "8F Crowd"... a)was a group of legislators who failed the eigth grade b) was a group of extremely wealthy Texans who met in Suite 8F of the Lamar Hotel in Houston and controlled Texas politics for 40 years. c)were 25 legislators who boycotted the eighth session of the legislature in order to prevent the legislators from taking any action because it lacked a quorum d) was made up of eight lobbyists who were close friends of the governor e) were the eighth most powerful officials in the state who met in Suite F of the Austin State Office Building

Group of extremely wealthy Texans who met in Suite 8F of the Lamar Hotel in Houston and controlled Texas politics for 40 years.

When individuals join or form interest groups they ________ their chances of achieving their policy goals.

Increasing

It is always better to work with the _______.

Incumbent

Campaign money overwhelmingly goes to _______.

Incumbents

PACs may engage in issue advocacy which is _______.

Independent spending on a campaign issue that helps the candidate but is outside the candidates control and need not be reported by the candidate

What does "Get on the Late Train " mean?

Interest groups give contributions after election to a winning candidate the group had opposed

Example of multi issue groups.

League of United Latin American citizens

Andres Correa individually lobbied for ______.

Legislators to pass a bill to make anyone who had attended the last 3 years of high school in Texas eligible for in-state tuition and financial aid

_______ reputation is very important.

Lobbyists

Interest groups communicate with policy makers through _____ who focus on trying to influence ______.

Lobbyists/elected officials

Incumbents have a big advantage with ________ and they have a _______.

Name recognition Support network

Single issue groups focus on ______.

Narrow policy concern

Grassroots campaigns are ______ and spontaneous.

Natural

Key to Andres Corrrea individual success?

No opposition

Main goal of Lobbyists?

To gain access to policy makers

One of the most important grassroots tactics of interest groups is ___________.

To get out the vote

Does Texas have weak or strong laws dealing with lobbying by former government officials?

WEAK

A single individual can make a difference in influencing the government if they are ___________.

Well prepared with NO STRONG INTEREST GROUP OPPOSITION

The most important thing interest groups need to be effective is _________.

access to politicians

Individuals have the best chance to influence public policy when they ___________.

are not opposed by organized interest groups

The technique of contributing to both candidates is done to ________.

avoid alienating a candidate, contributions may be made to both candidates

Bo Pilgrim incident was NOT considered _______, nor was it illegal.

bribery

Overall _____ is rare in Texas today, but not unheard of.

bribery

In Texas, the most powerful interest groups represent which interests?

buisness

When PACs combine small contributions from many sources to form one large contribution, it is called ________.

bundling

Interest groups have a ________ over individuals in influencing government.

clear advantage

Sometimes a group wants to ________ a candidate who is unreceptive to the groups message.

defeat

Interest groups have an advantage over individuals in influencing policy b/c interest groups usually have... a) more time to influence officials b) greater expertise than individuals c) more money to influence elections d) more staff e) more staff

e) more staff

Lobbyists are _______.

important sources of information for legislators

Lobbying takes place in the _______.(Which branches of govt.?)

legislative, executive and judicial branches

Interest groups are especially valuable to Texas part time citizen ______.

legislators

Lobbyists deal with many _____.

legislators

Some former government officials are hired as ________.

lobbyists

Lobbying is ______.

lucrative

Multi-issue groups are concerned with a ______ of policy areas.

multiple number

To gain access to policy makers, lobbyists may use the ____ relationship they have developed with policy makers.

personal

Today interest groups (specifically _______) continue to excercise great influence.

pro business

Trial lawyers are which type of interest group?

professional group

PACs are groups that ________.

raise/distribute funds for use in election campaigns

To gain access to policy makers, lobbyists may recruit ____ to put pressure on the policy makers by writing letters or sending emails.

voters