8. Political Parties & Interest Groups

Study

Chapter Summary

The chapter divides subject matter into two areas of study, political parties and organized interests in Texas. The authors choose a definition of parties, coined by Leon Epstein, to match the realities of Texas politics: "any group, however loosely organized, seeking to elect governmental office holders under a given label." To further understand political parties in Texas is to note that their ultimate function is controlling the government. An organized interest, as the authors choose to label it, is any organization that attempts to influence public policy decisions. Sometimes, an organized interest may include a collection of interests and not just individuals. Some interests are more organized than others. Therefore, some interests win and some interests lose. In addition, organized interests benefit from the short 140-day legislative session.

The parties nominate candidates to run under the party label, provide support for those candidates in a variety of areas in campaigning for office, and mobilize voters to get to the polls and support the party's candidates. There are three levels of party conventions in the state. The first convention is called a precinct convention, held minutes after the polls close at 7PM during the March primaries. At this level, delegates introduce and vote on resolutions and political issues and determine precinct delegates to the County or Senatorial District convention held on the third Saturday after the primary election. At this level delegates from the various precincts come together to select delegates to the state convention, vote on resolutions, and tackle party business.

There are a large number of organized interests in Texas that influence policymaking. Economic interests include corporations, labor unions, trade associations, and professional associations. Non-economic interests include public-interest groups as well as single-issue groups who are usually much more limited in their resources.

Review questions

1. How have political parties changed in Texas?
   



2. What are the main functions of political parties?
   



3. To what extent do parties and organized interests represent citizens of the state?
   



4. In what ways does Texas attempt to regulate interest group influence?